THE Anambra State Government has dismissed eight vigilante operatives accused of brutally assaulting a serving female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Edema Jennifer Elohor, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The shocking incident, which was captured in a viral video, drew widespread outrage after the operatives, identified as members of Operation Udo Ga-Achi (Agunechemba Vigilante Group), were seen beating and stripping the corps member naked despite her presenting a valid NYSC identity card.
Speaking on the development in Awka on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, announced the immediate dismissal of the operatives and disclosed that they would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
Emeakayi also revealed that the state government had taken responsibility for the victim’s medical bills, replaced her damaged valuables, and issued a public apology to her family and the NYSC.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the operatives had claimed they were in pursuit of suspected cultists, but their actions were “outside their mandate and a clear abuse of power.” He stressed that the case would serve as a turning point in reforming community security structures across Anambra State.
The attack has sparked condemnation from civil society groups, youth organisations, and lawmakers nationwide.
Senator Ede Dafinone, who represents Delta Central Senatorial District, described the assault as “barbaric, inhuman, and a disgrace to national service.”
In a strongly worded statement, the lawmaker said: “No Nigerian citizen, much less a young lady serving her fatherland, should ever be subjected to such dehumanising treatment. The perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.”
He also urged the Anambra State Government to adequately compensate the victim for the trauma and damages she suffered, while calling on the NYSC leadership to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of corps members across the country.
“The trust of parents must not be betrayed by negligence,” Dafinone warned.
Efforts to confirm whether the dismissed vigilante operatives had been transferred to police custody were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra State, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls or messages sent to him at the time of filing this report.
The assault, which trended widely on social media, has once again brought to the fore the growing concerns over the accountability of local vigilante groups operating in several states.
While they are credited with supplementing formal security agencies in combating crime, critics have long accused some of these groups of high-handedness, human rights violations, and abuse of power.
Governor Soludo’s swift dismissal of the operatives has been welcomed by many as a bold step, but many insist that justice must not stop at dismissal, stressing the importance of prosecution, compensation, and institutional reforms to prevent a recurrence.