• Victims picked up near Ebenebe, Anambra-Enugu boundary

Chief Sir Joseph Ebere Ezeokafor, chairman of Jezco Group of Companies and father of popular social media personality, Jowi Zaza, has regained his freedom after days in the custody of his abductors.

The Anambra State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the release of Ezeokafor and a Rev. Sister who were abducted by armed men at Ifite-Awka.

According to the Command, the two victims had safely returned, while security agencies were taking steps to establish the circumstances surrounding their release and gather information that could assist ongoing investigations.

Ezeokafor, a septuagenarian, was abducted in the early hours of Tuesday while reportedly on his way to a prayer ground in Awka, Anambra State.

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

A close family member, who confirmed the development, said the family was “understandably ecstatic” over his release.

“Thank God, the septuagenarian is free at last,” the source said.

Another source familiar with the development said Ezeokafor was picked up by a family member in Ebenebe.

The source described the area as an emerging kidnapping location in the axis, alleging that several abductions had either occurred there or that victims abducted elsewhere had been taken to the area.

But the claim could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

The businessman’s abduction had generated widespread concern across Anambra State and beyond, with security agencies coming under pressure to secure the safe release of the victims.

The development also came amid reports that the abductors had established contact with Ezeokafor’s family and initially demanded N700 million in ransom before allegedly raising the demand to N1.5 billion.

It could not be immediately ascertained if any ransom was paid before his release as the circumstances surrounding the victims’ release are yet to be explained.

It was also learnt that a reverend sister, who was abducted by the same gang, was also released along with the Jezco boss but her identity was not disclosed.

In its statement confirming the release, the police said it was taking necessary steps to establish what transpired and obtain relevant information that could assist in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators.

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the safe return of the victims and directed intensified intelligence-led operations and a manhunt for those responsible for the abduction.

The police said the operation involves the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Agunechemba security operatives and other relevant security agencies.

The Command also appealed to members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in apprehending the perpetrators.

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

He is well known in Anambra’s business community, while his son, Jowi Zaza, has a significant following on social media.

Gunmen have abducted 14 passengers travelling along the Otukpo–Adoka road in Benue State, with the police confirming that five of the victims have so far been rescued.

The incident occurred on Thursday night when an 18-seater commercial bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja was reportedly ambushed along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.

A resident, Ochai, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said the gunmen forced all the passengers into the surrounding forest.

Ochai said, “Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo -Adola road yesterday (Thursday) night.

“All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen.”

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, said the police launched a coordinated rescue operation early Friday.

Aondongu said the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the kidnappers.

The police boss said, “The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of 13 August 2026.

“Following the incident, operatives of the command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this (Friday) morning. The operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire, has so far resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy, while nine others remain in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.”

The police spokesperson disclosed that one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was taken to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment.

He said the police, working with other security agencies, had intensified efforts to secure the release of the remaining nine victims.

According to Aondongu, the operation was being conducted cautiously, with the safety of the abducted passengers prioritised.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, also assured the victims’ families and members of the public that efforts would continue until the remaining passengers were rescued.

He urged residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could aid the rescue operation.

The Enugu State Police Command has arrested and paraded suspected kidnappers allegedly linked to multiple kidnapping and murder cases across the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa at a press briefing in Enugu gave detailed accounts of how members of the kidnapping gangs were rounded up and the large sums of money obtained as ransom from the victims as well as sophisticated weapons were recovered through intelligence-led operations.

Read Full Text Below:

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, ENUGU STATE COMMAND, CP MAMMAN BITRUS GIWA, psc, mspsp, smicm, ON THE ARREST AND PARADE OF KIDNAPPING SUSPECTS LINKED TO MULTIPLE KIDNAPPING AND MURDER CASES IN ENUGU STATE, HELD 14THAUGUST, 2026, AT THE STATE HEADQUARTERS, GRA, ENUGU

Members of the Press,

I am pleased to brief you today on the outcome of a series of intelligence-led operations conducted by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command, which have resulted in the arrest of fourteen (14) male suspects linked to different kidnapping syndicates operating across State lines and implicated in multiple kidnapping incidents and a murder case in Enugu State.

You will recall that the Command has, at various times and locations, rescued kidnapped victims, arrested and, in some instances, neutralised kidnapping suspects, while recovering firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.

Recently, in separate joint operations, security operatives rescued kidnapped victims at Ogbozara Community in Nsukka LGA and Owukpa Community in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, with several exhibits, including live ammunition, recovered.

Most recently, one of the victims abducted from a church at Inoyi, Affa Community, Udi LGA, was rescued on 2nd August, 2026. Further joint, intelligence-led operations subsequently led to the rescue of the remaining two victims, the arrest of three suspects, the neutralisation of one suspect, and the recovery of ransom money, firearms, ammunition and other incriminating exhibits.

Further intelligence-led operations by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Violent Crime Response Unit (AK-VCRU) led to the arrest of two additional male suspects linked to the Affa Church kidnapping. The duo, who fled to Port Harcourt following the operational pressure mounted by joint security operatives, were traced and arrested in Port Harcourt and brought back to Enugu.

The suspects and their weapons

Preliminary investigation reveals that, after fleeing Enugu, the suspects regrouped with their cohorts in Port Harcourt and abducted another victim, who was released after a ransom of ₦5,000,000.00 was paid.

In furtherance of the Command’s sustained offensive against kidnapping and other violent crimes, twelve (12) additional suspects were earlier arrested through human and technical intelligence-led operations conducted in different parts of the country. The suspects were arrested on various dates in June, July and August 2026 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Kwara and Taraba States.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the suspects are members of an organised criminal network operating from different parts of the country. They converge in Enugu State to plan and execute kidnapping operations before returning to their respective locations.

The network is aided by an Enugu-based member who operates a tricycle and provides transportation for the gang members, their firearms and other criminal implements to and from operational locations. Another Enugu-based member provides intelligence that enables the gang to evade security surveillance and identify suitable targets and locations.

The suspects have, during interrogation, confessed to involvement in several recent and past kidnapping incidents across Enugu State, including along the Enugu–Ugwuogo–Opi–Nsukka Road; Obioma–9th Mile–Umulumgbe–Okpatu Road; Eke–Affa–Egede–Ezinze axis; and various locations in Ezeagu LGA.

Specifically, preliminary investigation has linked the suspects to the following armed kidnapping incidents:

These are in addition to other kidnapping incidents and ransom payments which the suspects have disclosed during interrogation.

Investigation has further revealed that the suspects laundered and concealed proceeds of their criminal activities through investments in livestock and different properties, lavish spending and other conspicuous consumption, as well as leisure and overseas trips, including trips to neighbouring countries such as Cameroon.

Exhibits recovered so far include:

The Command is conducting further investigations to establish the suspects’ involvement in other kidnapping and violent-crime incidents within and outside Enugu State, identify and arrest other members of the syndicate, and recover additional firearms, ammunition and other criminal proceeds. Upon conclusion of investigation, the suspects will be charged to court in accordance with extant laws.

The arrests and recoveries are a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of sustained intelligence gathering, ICT-enabled investigation, inter-agency collaboration, inter-state cooperation and coordinated operational policing adopted by the Command.

I wish to assure the Government and people of Enugu State that the Command remains resolute in its offensive against kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, rape, cultism and other violent crimes across the State. Our intelligence assets and operational teams remain fully engaged in identifying criminal networks, dismantling their structures and bringing their members to justice.

We will continue to make Enugu State increasingly unconducive to unrepentant local criminals, criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the State, and their activities.

I most sincerely appreciate the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, for his strategic leadership, guidance and sustained operational support, which have continued to enhance effective and result-oriented policing in Enugu State.

I would also like to express my profound gratitude tothe Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for his unwavering support and commitment to making the State safe, secure and conducive for residents, visitors and legitimate economic activities. His forward-looking leadership and support for training and security operations have significantly strengthened our collective efforts to combat crime in the State.

I equally commend other security agencies for their collaborative support, while also thanking members of the public for their continued cooperation and timely provision of useful information to the Police. Community support remains indispensable to effective intelligence-led policing. I therefore urge residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities through established Police channels.

Thank you for your time and attention.