Anambra businessman and Chairman of Jezco Group, Chief Joseph J. Ezeokafor, alongside a Reverend Sister whose identity has not been disclosed, has regained freedom after spending about 10 days in captivity following their abduction by armed men in Ifite-Awka, Anambra State.
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The Anambra State Police Command confirmed their release on Saturday, August 15, 2026, saying both victims had safely returned after they were picked up by a family member following their release.
The command said it had commenced efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the development and obtain information from the victims that could assist investigators in identifying and apprehending those responsible for the abduction.
“The Anambra State Police Command confirms that, today, 15th August 2026, Chief J. J. Ezeokafor and a Rev. Sister, who were earlier abducted by armed criminals at Ifite-Awka, have been released and have safely returned,” the police said.
“The command is currently taking necessary steps to establish the circumstances surrounding their release and obtain relevant information that will assist ongoing investigations and identification of the perpetrators.”
Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, welcomed the safe return of the victims and directed security operatives to intensify intelligence-led operations and the manhunt for the kidnappers.
“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, while commending the safe return of the victims, further directs intensified intelligence-led operations and manhunt for those responsible for the abduction,” the statement added.
Police spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga also confirmed the development, stressing that investigators were gathering relevant information about both the abduction and the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release.
According to the command, the ongoing security operation involves the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Agunechemba security operatives and other relevant security agencies.
The police thanked residents for their cooperation and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information capable of assisting security agencies in tracking down the perpetrators.
Details of how Ezeokafor and the Reverend Sister regained their freedom remained unclear as of the time of the police statement.
The police did not disclose whether any ransom was paid.
However, a source close to the businessman’s family claimed that Ezeokafor and the Reverend Sister were picked up by a family member in the Ebenebe axis, close to the Anambra-Enugu boundary, after being released in the early hours of Saturday.
The source described the area as one which had recently attracted concern over kidnapping incidents, claiming that some victims abducted elsewhere had been taken into the axis.
That claim has not been independently confirmed by security agencies.
The family source further alleged that Ezeokafor’s abductors contacted his relatives about two days after the kidnapping and began negotiating a ransom.
According to the source, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦700 million, which the family was said to have accepted as part of efforts to secure the businessman’s release.
The source, however, claimed that the abductors later increased the demand to ₦1.5 billion after apparently concluding that the family could raise a larger amount.
“The family paid ₦1.5 billion for his release. The kidnappers initially demanded ₦700 million, a figure which the victim’s family had accepted as part of efforts to secure their father’s release,” the source alleged.
“However, sensing some feelings that there may be more money, the kidnappers subsequently raised their demand to ₦1.5 billion, after which they stopped further engagement with the family until their release on Saturday.”
The alleged ₦1.5 billion payment has not been confirmed by the police, the Ezeokafor family in an official statement or any other security agency.
The police have instead said they are still establishing the circumstances surrounding the victims’ freedom.
Reports of the ransom negotiations had generated considerable concern among the businessman’s relatives, associates and members of his community.
The incident also reportedly triggered disagreements within the family, with some siblings said to have traded blame over circumstances they believed may have contributed to their father becoming a kidnapping target.
Ezeokafor is the Managing Director of JEZCO Oil and Chairman of Jezco Group.
He and the Reverend Sister were abducted by armed men in the Ifite-Awka area and remained in captivity for about 10 days before their release on Saturday.
Despite their return, security agencies said the investigation remained active, with attention now focused on identifying the kidnappers, locating their operational bases and apprehending everyone connected with the abduction.
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