The Anambra State Government has responded to the assault on a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Edema Elohor, by vigilante operatives. A video surfaced showing armed men, allegedly members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, assaulting Elohor and other corps members at their lodge. The operatives accused the corps members of being internet fraudsters despite them presenting their NYSC IDs and uniforms. Elohor was beaten, stripped, and left pleading for mercy while her clothes were torn.
The Anambra State Government has strongly condemned the assault. The operatives involved have been identified, arrested, and placed in detention pending investigations. Ken Emeakayi, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, described the act as “unfortunate and unacceptable.” The assaulted corps member and NYSC officials were invited to provide a firsthand account of the incident.
The incident occurred during Operation Udo Ga-Achi, a joint security operation involving the police, army, Department of State Services, civil defense, and the state security outfit, Agbunechemba. Agbunechemba is Anambra’s statutory security outfit established under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025. Operation Udo Ga-Achi is designed to bolster regular policing, focusing on intelligence gathering and enhancing rapid response capabilities.
The Anambra State House of Assembly passed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill into law in January 2025. The law aims to maintain internal security and order in the state and establish the Anambra State “Agunechemba.” It provides a framework for fostering community involvement and encouraging citizens to take ownership of security efforts. The law is not targeted at traditional worship or native doctors but is designed to combat crime and criminality.
