By Prosper Mene
A female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Edema Elohor, has spoken out about a harrowing assault she endured at the hands of operatives from the Anambra State Vigilante Group, known as Operation Udo Ga-Achi or Agunechemba Vigilante Group, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
The incident occurred on July 23, 2025, and gained widespread attention after a viral video surfaced on Monday. It has sparked outrage across Nigeria, prompting condemnation from the NYSC, the Anambra State Government, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
In a video shared on social media, Ms. Elohor detailed the traumatic experience, recounting how armed vigilantes stormed a corps members’ lodge, accusing the occupants of internet fraud despite their display of NYSC identification cards and uniforms.
The operative allegedly beat her, tore her clothes, and left her partially unclothed, ignoring her pleas for mercy. The disturbing footage, uploaded by the Haven 360 Foundation, showed Ms. Elohor being subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment, triggering calls for justice.
Speaking out for the first time, Ms. Elohor expressed her anguish, stating, “I was humiliated and treated like a criminal for no reason. I was only visiting the lodge, and they didn’t care about my NYSC identity. This is a national shame.” Her account aligns with reports from a former corps member, Unity from Delta State, who served in Onitsha North LGA between 2021 and 2022. Unity described frequent hostility from vigilantes, noting, “They didn’t care if you were a corps member. I had to outsmart them to avoid trouble.”
The NYSC condemned the assault as “unacceptable and dehumanising,” with Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, emphasizing that no justification warrants such treatment.
The organization is providing psychological and physiological support to Ms. Elohor and supporting the ongoing police investigation to ensure justice.
The Anambra State Government has taken swift action, confirming the arrest and detention of the operatives involved. Ken Emeakayi, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, described the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable,” saying that the operatives were part of a joint task force pursuing suspected cultists. He noted that while the operation was legitimate, the vigilantes’ conduct was indefensible. The government has suspended the operatives and is conducting investigations to determine whether internal disciplinary measures or prosecution are warranted.
Nonye Soludo, the governor’s wife, also condemned the assault, calling it a violation of Anambra’s values of hospitality and peace. She demanded a thorough investigation, stating, “Such a demeaning approach to law and order does not reflect our administration’s humane philosophy.” The NBA has called for the prosecution of the perpetrators, with President Afam Osigwe stressing that justice must serve as both redress for Ms. Elohor and a deterrent against future abuses.
The Anambra state police have urged corps members to report harassment and warned vigilante groups against brutality, emphasizing that such misconduct will not be tolerated.
While the investigation is going on, Nigerians await justice for Ms. Elohor, whose courage in speaking out has heightened calls for systemic reforms to protect corps members and curb abuses by security operatives.
