Anambra Security Agents Threatened To Rape, Kill Female Corps Member – Lawyer Reveals

A lawyer representing an assaulted female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Jennifer Elobor, has alleged that vigilante operatives in Anambra State threatened to rape and kill her during a violent encounter in Oba community.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, counsel Cyrus Onu narrated how the incident unfolded when members of the Operation Udo Ga-Achi (popularly called Agunechemba Vigilante Group) stormed the corps members’ residence.

According to him, the operatives failed to identify themselves, branding the corps members as ‘Yahoo boys’ before attempting to drag them out.

“They [security agents] were banging the door, and Jennifer was trying to open the door, and they just kicked it. Most of them were masked in mufti with guns, so you can imagine how scared the corps members were.

“Jennifer insisted that if they must take them anywhere, they should allow them to call their Local Government Inspector since they didn’t know who the men were. That was when they started pouncing on her. They made derogatory comments, asking her who gave her the right as a lady to speak to them anyhow,” Onu noted.

Allegation Of Rape

Onu alleged that the vigilante operatives not only beat the corps member but also made chilling threats.

“She asked them to allow her to change into something appropriate, and they said, ‘That thing you’re trying to cover, we’ll see it today.

“We’ll beat you up, we’ll rape you, kill you, and dump you, and nobody can say anything,” he said.

The lawyer further claimed that Elobor’s colleagues, who tried to intervene, were equally threatened with death.

Naija News reports that a viral video of the incident showed the gun-wielding vigilante operatives assaulting Elobor and tearing her clothes, sparking outrage nationwide.

State Govt Reacts

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, confirmed on Tuesday that the operatives involved had been arrested and suspended.

“They are suspended because when a case has been established against someone, you arrest the person, then hand him over to the police. They are now undergoing other disciplinary measures within our system, pending the final evaluation of the matter,” Emeakayi said.

But Onu dismissed the state government’s handling of the case as “unacceptable,” accusing officials of making excuses instead of pursuing justice.

“Ken was alleging that the lady was not forthcoming, and that was why they couldn’t go on with the investigation. That’s not true. In fact, when they got to the secretariat, those people were still firing guns in the air to intimidate them,” the lawyer said.

He added that only the intervention of NYSC inspectors prevented further harassment.

“If not for the fact that the incident came to the public, they would have swept it under the carpet. They are not prepared to prosecute. My clients are seeking compensatory damages, and those perpetrators will have to pay,” he vowed.

Onu revealed that a petition had already been submitted to the Anambra State Government, demanding prosecution and damages.

“There must be consequences for bad behaviour. We will follow up to ensure both criminal prosecution and compensatory damages,” he said.