Kidnapped Anambra Businessman, Chief Joseph Ebere Ezeokafor (Jezco) Freed

Chief Sir Joseph Ebere Ezeokafor, chairman of Jezco Group of Companies, popularly known as Jezco, has regained his freedom.

Ezeokafor, the father of popular social media personality Jowi Zaza, was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday while on his way to a prayer ground in Awka, Anambra State.

His release comes after days in captivity, during which his abductors reportedly established contact with his family and initially demanded a ransom of N700 million before allegedly raising the demand to N1.5 billion.

Details surrounding his release, including whether any ransom was paid and where he was released, were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

The development is, however, a major relief to the family, friends and associates of the businessman, whose abduction had generated widespread concern across Anambra and beyond.

Ezeokafor is the founder of Jezco Oil and Lubricants, a business he established in 1980 and subsequently expanded into other areas of manufacturing and business.

He was released near the boundary between Enugu and Anambra States, close to Ebenebe, near Awka. He was picked up late at night by a family member.

By Fred Chukwulobe