A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Elohor Edema, who was brutally assaulted and stripped by operatives of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group in Anambra State, has narrated her harrowing experience and demanded justice.
A viral video released on August 19 captured the shocking moment armed vigilantes stormed a corps members’ lodge in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, on July 23, accusing the occupants of internet fraud.
The video showed Elohor being beaten, stripped, and humiliated by gun-wielding men who ignored their pleas of innocence.
In an interview with vlogger Aprokoking, the Delta-born corps member revealed that the operatives, who were masked and without uniforms, forcefully broke into their apartment around 5 p.m.
“Before I got to the door, it was kicked in. A masked man with a gun entered without introducing himself. At first, I thought he was an armed robber until he ordered us outside. Even after showing them our NYSC identity cards, they accused us of being ‘yahoo boys,’ seized our phones and laptops, and became violent,” she recounted.
Elohor alleged that she was singled out for questioning the vigilantes’ actions, leading to a brutal assault.
“They beat me, tore my clothes, and called me a prostitute. One of my colleagues who pleaded on my behalf was hit with an iron rod. They threatened to shoot me and dump my body in the bush,” she said tearfully.
She added that nine corps members were forced into the vigilantes’ vehicle, where they were slapped, threatened, and denied access to contact their Local Government Inspector (LGI) or NYSC authorities.
Public outrage over the incident has prompted the arrest of the vigilante operatives, with rights groups and lawmakers demanding accountability.
The NYSC management has also clarified that Elohor was visiting the lodge when the assault occurred, and pledged to monitor investigations.
Elohor, however, insists that arrests alone are not enough.
“I want justice. I want those people punished in the best way possible,” she said.
The case has intensified debate over the excesses of local vigilante groups across Nigeria and renewed calls for stricter oversight of community security outfits.
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