AWKA — The Anambra State government has dismissed eight operatives of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group (Operation Udo Ga-Achi) following the brutal assault of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Elobor, serving in the state.
The dismissal came after a viral video on Monday showed the operatives, armed and masked, violently assaulting Elobor in what the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described as an “inhumane and barbaric” act.
Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, confirmed in Awka that the state government had covered Elobor’s medical bills, replaced her damaged belongings, and publicly apologized to her family and the NYSC. He added that the culprits would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The Soludo administration will not tolerate any form of unprofessionalism, brutality, or abuse of office by security operatives. Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution,” Emeakayi stated, stressing that the case marks a turning point in reforming community security in the state.
NBA Demands Justice
The NBA, in a statement by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and National Secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, condemned the assault as a direct violation of Elobor’s dignity and human rights.
“Accountability must not stop at dismissal. The perpetrators must be promptly prosecuted in accordance with the law. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” the association said.
The NBA further urged comprehensive retraining of security operatives, emphasizing that “forces meant to protect citizens must not become agents of abuse.”
Lawyer: Culprits Threatened to Rape and Kill Her
Elobor’s lawyer, Cyrus Onu, revealed shocking details, alleging that the operatives threatened to rape and kill the corps member during the assault.
“They told her, ‘That thing you’re trying to cover, we’ll see it today. We’ll beat you up, rape you, kill you, and dump you and nobody can say anything,’” Onu told Channels Television.
He added that the corps members were intimidated at gunpoint and only released after NYSC officials intervened. Onu said his client would pursue not only prosecution but also compensatory damages from the Anambra government.
Nationwide Outrage
Senator Ede Dafinone (Delta Central) also condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric, inhuman, and a disgrace to national service.”
“No Nigerian citizen, much less a young lady serving her fatherland, should ever be subjected to such dehumanizing treatment,” Dafinone said, urging swift prosecution and adequate compensation for the victim.
The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with growing calls for the federal government and NYSC authorities to step in to protect corps members serving in Anambra and across the country.
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