The founder of Jezco Oil and Lubricants, Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, has reportedly been abducted during an overnight prayer session in Awka, Anambra State.
Ezeokafor, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, was said to have been taken away by suspected kidnappers during the prayer gathering, according to reports circulating on Monday.
The reported incident has reportedly cast a pall over his community, with plans for its annual New Yam Festival said to have been postponed following the development.
Details surrounding the alleged abduction, including the exact location of the prayer session, the circumstances of his disappearance and whether any demand for ransom has been made, remain unclear.
There has also been no immediate official confirmation from the Anambra State Police Command on the reported incident.
Ezeokafor is the founder and chairman of Jezco Oil and Lubricants, a business group with interests in the petroleum and manufacturing sectors. He has also been publicly recognised for his contributions to business and philanthropy in Anambra State.
The reported abduction comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Anambra, where kidnapping and violent attacks have previously disrupted community activities and traditional festivals. In 2024, for example, violence during a New Yam Festival in Nibo, near Awka, left several people dead.
Authorities are expected to provide further information as efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding Ezeokafor’s reported disappearance continue.
