The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has strongly denounced the assault on corps member Jennifer Elobor by local security operatives in Anambra State, describing the incident as both “unfortunate” and unjustifiable.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the NYSC maintained that no circumstance warranted the treatment meted out to Elobor. “Management strongly condemns the unacceptable and dehumanising manner in which the operatives conducted their operations, irrespective of their initial justification for the purported investigation they set out to carry out at the facility where the corps members were accommodated,” the NYSC Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, said.
A disturbing video surfaced days earlier showing members of the Operation Udo Ga-Achi, popularly known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, physically assaulting the corps member. In the footage, she was beaten and stripped of her clothing in Oba Community, Idemnili South Local Government Area, after the vigilantes accused her and other corps members of engaging in fraudulent activities.
Reacting to public outrage, the Anambra State Government announced on Tuesday that the operatives involved had been apprehended and investigations were ongoing. The development has since attracted widespread criticism, with many demanding accountability.
The NYSC welcomed the state government’s swift intervention, adding that it will cooperate fully with “the ongoing investigation by the Nigeria Police Force towards unravelling what transpired.” The statement further noted, “This we trust will help get justice for the corps member in question and any other aggrieved party.”
It also assured that internal processes were being put in place to support Elobor. “Furthermore, necessary administrative procedures are underway to assist the corps member in question in managing the physiological and psychological trauma resulting from this unfortunate incident,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has joined calls for justice, describing the treatment of Elobor as “inhumane.” While commending the Anambra State Government for the arrests, the association insisted that prosecution was necessary to ensure accountability.
“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, to serve as both redress for Ms. Elobor and deterrence against similar abuses in the future,” the NBA wrote in its statement signed by President Afam Osigwe and National Secretary Mobolaji Ojibara.
What you should know
The assault on corps member Jennifer Elobor has sparked nationwide outrage, drawing attention to the vulnerability of NYSC members posted across Nigeria.
The incident, involving the Agunechemba Vigilante Group in Anambra, has been condemned as dehumanising and unlawful. While the Anambra State Government has arrested those involved, the NYSC is committed to ensuring justice through collaboration with the police.
The Nigerian Bar Association is also demanding prosecution to set an example against such abuses. Beyond seeking justice, efforts are underway to provide Elobor with support to manage the physical and psychological impact of the assault.
