A National Youth Service Corps member, Jennifer Elohor, who was brutalised by Anambra security operatives, otherwise known as Agunechemba, at a corpers lodge in Oba, Idemili Local Government Area of the state, has recounted her harrowing experience.
In a video that went viral on Tuesday, the operatives armed with guns stormed the corps members’ lodge, accused them of being Internet fraudsters, although they knew they were corps members. They were seen beating the female corps member despite her cries for help.
The incident has continued to generate widespread reactions across the state, with stakeholders, civil society organisations, human rights groups, and lawmakers condemning the action of the vigilante group, with many demanding justice for the victim and calling for sanctions against the vigilante team.
Elohor, who narrated her ordeal in an interview with a media personality, Aprokoking, shared online on Wednesday, said the Anambra State operatives broke into her residence, assaulted her, and forcefully took her and some of her colleagues away.
This is just as the Anambra State Government has tendered a public apology to the victim and anyone who had suffered abuse or harassment in the hands of Agunechemba personnel.
The corps member said the incident occurred on July 13, around 5pm, at the lodge where she and other corps members were residing.
She said she and her colleagues were indoors when suddenly they heard a violent knock on their door.
She said, At first, we thought it was our neighbours’ door because it’s a three-storey building with several flats. But the knock became louder and more aggressive, so I decided to check. Before I could reach the door, it was kicked open.
A masked man armed with a gun stormed into the room without any form of identification or uniform.
At first, I thought it was an armed robber until he ordered all of us to come outside. I tried to explain that we were corps members and even suggested showing our NYSC identity cards. My colleagues also presented theirs, but the men ignored us. The intruders ransacked our room, seized our phones and laptops, and became violent.
They pushed us downstairs, almost shoving me down the staircase. They kept asking what gave me the right, as a woman, to challenge them. It was when we got outside that we saw their vehicle and discovered they were from the Anambra Vigilante Group.
She further claimed that when they requested to call their lodge proprietor or NYSC officials to notify them of where they were being taken to, the vigilante members became more brutal and violent.
They beat me, tore my clothes, and even hit one of my colleagues with an iron rod for pleading on my behalf. They forced me into their vehicle, pressing my neck, slapping me, and threatening to smash our phones if we contacted anyone,” she added.
Following the outrage, the Anambra State Government, through the Special Adviser to the state governor on Community Security and leader of Agunechemba, Ken Emeakayi, while speaking to journalists on Thursday, restated that the eight personnel responsible have been identified, sacked, arrested and detained.
Emeakayi said the state government had listened to the voice of members of the public and assured that their voices will not go unheard, re-emphasising commitment to justice, accountability and reforms that will make community policing safer and more humane in the state.
He acknowledged that while the Agunechemba was created to support the police in securing local communities, some operatives have, at times, acted outside the law.
He admitted that there were lapses and appealed to members of the public to continue speaking up whenever such incidents occur.
In a rare show of empathy, Emeakayi offered a public apology to anyone who has suffered abuse or harassment in the hands of Agunechemba personnel and stressed that the administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo believes deeply in the rule of law and will never shield any operative who acts unlawfully.
He said, “We use the occasion to tender an apology to anyone who has suffered abuse or harassment in the hands of Agunechemba personnel. The administration of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo believes deeply in the rule of law and will never shield any operative who acts unlawfully.
Those responsible for the incident have been sacked and arrested. We also call for regular feedback from communities, not only complaints, but suggestions that can help improve the performance of Agunechemba.
Such a partnership will enable the government to shape the outfit into a people-centred force where discipline, respect for human rights and professionalism come first.
