Kidnappers have released an Anambra businessman, Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, and a reverend sister who were abducted by gunmen in Ifite-Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Ezeokafor, the Chairman of Jezco Group, and the reverend sister were released in the early hours of Saturday after spending several days in captivity. Both victims have since returned safely.The Anambra State Police Command confirmed their release on Saturday through its spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
Ikenga said the police were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the abduction and release while gathering information that could help investigators identify those responsible.He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, had ordered intensified intelligence-led operations and a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.
The police spokesperson also said other security agencies were involved in the operation. He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information that could help security forces arrest the perpetrators.
Although the police did not disclose whether a ransom was paid, a source close to the businessman’s family claimed that the kidnappers demanded and received N1.5bn before releasing the victims.
The source said the kidnappers initially demanded N700m after establishing contact with Ezeokafor’s family two days after the abduction.
According to the source, the family accepted the initial demand as part of efforts to secure the businessman’s release. The kidnappers later increased their demand to N1.5bn after allegedly believing that the family could raise more money.
The source claimed that the kidnappers stopped communicating with the family after raising the demand and eventually released the victims on Saturday.The police have not independently confirmed the reported N1.5bn ransom payment.
A family source also said Ezeokafor and the reverend sister were picked up by a relative in the Ebenebe area, close to the Anambra-Enugu border.
The area has reportedly become a concern for security agencies, with several kidnapping incidents linked to the axis. Some victims abducted elsewhere have also allegedly been taken there.
The abduction has caused concern among the businessman’s relatives, associates and members of the local community, particularly over the reported size of the ransom.
The police said their investigation would focus on establishing how the victims were abducted, the circumstances surrounding their release and identifying the gunmen.
The latest development comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping and ransom demands in parts of South-East Nigeria. Security agencies have faced pressure to dismantle kidnapping networks and prevent criminals from using remote border communities as hideouts.
For now, the safe return of Ezeokafor and the reverend sister has ended their families’ immediate ordeal, but the police investigation continues as authorities search for those behind the abduction.
