Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, has strongly condemned what he described as a “barbaric and inhuman” assault on Miss Edema Jennifer Elohor, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), by members of a local vigilante group in Anambra State.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Senator Dafinone decried the “cruel actions” of armed operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, also known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, who allegedly attacked and brutalised corps members residing in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.
A viral video circulating online shows the disturbing moment the vigilante group stormed the NYSC lodge, physically assaulting corps members despite their presentation of valid NYSC identification cards. Miss Elohor was reportedly beaten, stripped naked, left bleeding, and subjected to degrading threats, sparking widespread outrage.
“No Nigerian citizen, much less a young lady serving her fatherland, should ever be subjected to such dehumanising treatment,” Senator Dafinone stated. “This is not only a violation of her dignity and rights but an affront to the very ideals of national service and unity.”
The lawmaker described the incident as a damning indictment of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group and highlighted the urgent need to regulate vigilante operations across the country.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force to swiftly identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the assault, warning that failure to do so would only encourage further abuses under the guise of community policing.
“The perpetrators must face the full weight of the law. Anything less will embolden the unchecked abuse of citizens’ rights,” Dafinone warned.
Senator Dafinone also called on the Anambra State Government to take full responsibility for the incident by offering “immediate and adequate compensation” to Miss Elohor for the physical and psychological trauma she endured.
“The state must act to restore her dignity and send a clear message that such lawlessness will not be tolerated,” he said.
Additionally, he urged the leadership of the NYSC to prioritize the safety of all corps members serving in Anambra and across the country, stressing that the confidence of parents and guardians in the programme must not be betrayed.
“The attack on Jennifer Elohor is a test of our collective resolve against impunity,” Senator Dafinone concluded. “Justice must be served swiftly, perpetrators punished, and reforms instituted to prevent such shameful abuse in the future.”
The NYSC has yet to issue a formal response as of press time. Public outrage continues to mount online, with calls for a comprehensive investigation into the incident and broader scrutiny of vigilante operations nationwide.
