AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE (ABT NEWS) — In a shocking turn of events that has left the business world reeling and a prominent community in absolute disarray, Sir Joseph EzeOkafor—the billionaire businessman, founder of the Jezco Group, and father to Nigerian Instagram celebrity Jowizaza—was violently abducted last week by unknown gunmen.
The kidnapping, which took place on a secluded prayer mountain at Ifite Awka, has cast a grim spotlight on the terrifying and acute wave of insecurity currently tormenting Anambra State.
The Midnight Mountain Ambush
According to gathered reports, Sir EzeOkafor had gone to the prayer mountain at Ifite Awka for a customary overnight session to pray and seek the face of God. A deeply religious man, the billionaire has made this fervent spiritual retreat a monthly routine for years.
However, in a tragic miscalculation, the elder EzeOkafor reportedly went to the mountain completely alone, leaving behind the heavy police escorts and security details that usually accompany him. Criminal elements evidently seized upon this rare moment of vulnerability. During the quiet hours of his prayers, unknown gunmen struck, overpowering the billionaire and whisking him away to an undisclosed location.
As of press time, the whereabouts of the Jezco Oil magnate remain unknown, and it is unclear if the kidnappers have made any ransom demands to the family.
Ekwulobia Thrown Into Mourning
The abduction has triggered widespread panic and sorrow, particularly in Ekwulobia, the headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area, where Sir EzeOkafor is revered as the community’s richest and most illustrious son.
In a historic and unprecedented move, the community has completely postponed its highly anticipated annual New Yam Festival. Community leaders concluded that it defies logic and tradition to feast and celebrate while the family of their most prominent benefactor is in turmoil over his terrifying ordeal. The suspension of the festival underscores the immense influence of the Okafor family and the deep communal shock generated by the news.
An Epidemic of Insecurity
Sir EzeOkafor’s abduction is not an isolated tragedy, but the latest high-profile incident in an escalating kidnapping epidemic that has held Anambra State by the jugular. Over the past few months, criminal gangs, armed robbers, and kidnapping syndicates have operated with terrifying audacity across the state, targeting both the wealthy and the working class.
Recent security reports paint a grim picture of the state’s daily reality:
- The Urum Ambush (February 2026): Gunmen ambushed unsuspecting commuters along a road in Urum, Awka North, leaving six people with severe bullet wounds. Police investigations later revealed the gunmen were mercenaries hired for a mere N500,000.
- The Job-Offer Trap (April 2026): Just months ago, police in Nnobi, Idemili North, had to rescue an electrician who was lured to a fake job interview, blindfolded at gunpoint, and held captive in a forest until his family paid a ransom into a sport-betting account.
- The Arrest of “Bullet” (May 2026): Security operatives apprehended a notorious suspect known as “Bullet” following the brutal abduction and assault of a female victim in the state.
These incidents, combined with the brazen abduction of a heavily profiled billionaire like Sir Joseph Eze Okafor, highlight a frightening reality: nowhere is completely safe, not even the sanctuary of a prayer mountain.
As the EzeOkafor family endures an agonizing wait for their patriarch’s safe return, all eyes are now on the Anambra State Police Command. Residents and business leaders are demanding an immediate, aggressive tactical response to dismantle the kidnapping syndicates that are rapidly turning the state into a den of terror.
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