Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has ordered the dismissal of eight operatives of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group for assaulting a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Elobor.
The incident, which sparked public outrage, followed the circulation of a viral video on Monday showing armed vigilante members under “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” brutalising the corps member.
Speaking on the matter, Soludo’s Special Adviser on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, disclosed that the state government had fully covered the victim’s medical expenses, replaced her damaged personal items, and issued a formal apology to both her family and the NYSC.
He further stated that the dismissed operatives, who had claimed they were chasing suspected cultists, acted beyond their mandate and would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The Soludo administration will not condone unprofessionalism, brutality, or abuse of office by any security operative. Anyone found guilty of misconduct will face dismissal and prosecution immediately. This case will serve as a turning point in sanitising community security operations in Anambra,” Emeakayi said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the incident. In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), and National Secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, the association described the attack as “inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the victim’s dignity and fundamental human rights.”
