Anambra Vigilante Operatives Dismissed After Assault on Female Corps Member
The Anambra State Government has dismissed members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group following public outrage over a viral video showing them assaulting a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Edema Elohor, and her colleagues in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
The footage, shared online by the Haven 360 Foundation, showed armed men storming a corps members’ lodge, accusing occupants of engaging in internet fraud. Despite producing valid NYSC identification, the corps members were harassed, while Elohor was beaten, stripped, and left with injuries.
Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, condemned the incident, describing it as “unfortunate and unacceptable.”
He said the operatives involved had been identified, arrested, and dismissed, stressing that their actions went against the ethics of security service.
“No security officer has the mandate to brutalise citizens, let alone corps members who are contributing to our state’s development,” he said.
Emeakayi explained that the assault occurred during a security operation but insisted the operatives went beyond their mandate. He assured that the case had been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
The NYSC headquarters also condemned the incident, reaffirming its commitment to the safety of corps members.
“The NYSC will not tolerate any act of intimidation or harassment of corps members. This matter has been reported to the police, and we expect justice to take its full course.”
The Agunechemba Vigilante Group, also known as Operation Udo Ga-Achi, was launched in March 2025 under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law.
The outfit was established to support the police, military, and other security agencies in combating violent crimes such as kidnapping, cultism, and armed robbery.
While credited with reducing insecurity in some areas, the group has faced criticism over allegations of extortion, intimidation, and abuse of power. The assault on corps members is its most high-profile controversy to date.
The state government has pledged reforms, including stricter supervision, retraining of operatives, and visible identification numbers for all members of the security outfit.
Civil society organisations have also called for an independent review of the group’s operations, warning that unchecked powers could undermine the very communities the outfit was created to protect.
As investigations continue, the attack on Jennifer Edema Elohor has reignited national debate on the accountability of community security groups in Nigeria.
Many stakeholders are now questioning whether vigilante outfits should remain armed extensions of state security, or whether stricter oversight is urgently needed to prevent further abuse.
