AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE (ABT NEWS) — As billionaire industrialist Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor enters his seventh consecutive night in the clutches of armed abductors, his family has broken their silence to provide critical updates, dispelling viral rumors of his release and raising an urgent alarm over his survival.
The founder and CEO of the Jezco Group and father to prominent social media figure Joseph Ezeokafor Jr. (Jowizaza) was snatched in the early hours of last Tuesday from a remote spiritual sanctuary in Ifite, Awka. With no communication from the abductors and no access to his life-saving High blood pressure medication, the 72-year-old oil mogul’s family is trapped in an agonizing vigil.
The 2:00 AM Ambush at the Sanctuary He Built
Fresh revelations from the family confirm that Sir Joseph was abducted at exactly 2:00 AM last Tuesday while on his knees in intense prayer at the Precious Blood Prayer Ministry Ground in Ifite, Awka.
In a bitter twist of irony, the very sanctuary where he was ambushed exists largely due to his own benevolence. A devout and pious Catholic, Sir Joseph single-handedly financed the construction of the Precious Blood prayer house, as well as the tarred access roads leading to the grounds, as a personal gift of faith.
Having risen from humble beginnings as an orphan to become one of Nigeria’s most successful industrialists, Sir Joseph made it a strict monthly ritual to visit the prayer ground quietly and without fanfare to give thanks. Out of deep reverence for the holy site, he consistently refused to bring his police escorts or private security details onto the prayer ground, believing that a house of God should never be guarded by firearms. Armed gunmen seized upon this exact moment of spiritual vulnerability to carry out the midnight raid.
Family Debunks “Release” Rumors, Warns of Medical Emergency
Addressing the speculative reports circulating across social media platforms over the past 48 hours, the family made two crucial clarifications:
- No Release Has Occurred: Contrary to widespread rumors claiming he had been rescued or freed, Sir Joseph remains in kidnappers’ custody.
- No Contact from Abductors: The kidnapping syndicate has not established any contact with the family, leaving his loved ones completely in the dark regarding his condition or demands.
The family expressed grave distress over his physical well-being. Sir Joseph suffers from severe hypertension (high blood pressure) and was abducted without his daily mandatory medication. Entering his seventh night without these essential drugs, his health situation has reached a critical stage.
The Jezco Empire: An Industrial Pillar Under Siege
The crisis surrounding Sir Joseph Ezeokafor hits at the heart of Nigeria’s commercial energy sector. Over four decades, the patriarch built Jezco Group into an integrated energy conglomerate comprising key strategic pillars:
- Jezco Filling Stations: A massive downstream retail network distributing petrol, diesel, and kerosene across major commercial hubs nationwide.
- Jezco Lubricants: One of the most dominant and widely used engine oil brands across South-Eastern Nigeria.
- Jezco Trading: The group’s major commercial import arm responsible for bringing in bulk base oil—the critical raw material required for industrial lubricant production—which Jezco supplies to blending plants and lube manufacturers across the country.
Beyond his business footprint, Sir Joseph’s immense community philanthropy led his hometown of Ekwulobia to take the historic step of indefinitely postponing its annual New Yam Festival (Iwa Ji) in solidarity with his family.
A State in Security Freefall
Sir Joseph’s prolonged abduction inside the state capital of Awka underscores the deep security vulnerability gripping Anambra State. As public outrage grows over the government’s handling of the state’s security apparatus, business leaders and citizens alike are demanding swift, tangible tactical intervention rather than press statements.
The family continues to appeal to security agencies and the public for any verified intelligence that could lead to the safe recovery of the devout patriarch before his medical condition worsens.
ABT NEWS will continue tracking this story as developments unfold.
By
