By Chuks Eke
As condemnations trail the brutalization of Miss Jennifer Edema Elehor, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC serving in Anambra state, by members of Agunechemba Security Outfit code-named: “Operation Udo-Ga-Achi”, a social crusader, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq KSC has called on relevant authorities to subject the perpetrators of the dastardly act to full weight of the law.
He said anything short of that would embolden other security operatives to continue to act with all manners of impunity, thereby violating the secredness of human rights.
Already, Anambra state police command has issued a stern warning against the actions of the security operatives saying that it would not condone such an act of brigandage in the state, particularly the local vigilantes.
The state Police Public Relations Officers, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga who issued the warning in a press statement, said the command would no longer tolerate acts of brutality or abuse of authority from security operatives or quasi security outfits in the state.
But in his own press statement entitled: “NYSC lady brutalized – a national shame we must never normalize”, Ejiofor noted that apart from subjecting the perpetrators to full weight of the law, the state government should equally bear a moral and legal responsibility to support the victimized Elehor, adding that compensation alone would not be enough but she must be given access to to comprehensive post-trauma counselling, rehabilitation and medical attention.
According to Ejiofor, “no young lady should be left to carry such scars, visible or invisible alone. Going forward, I strongly recommend that Governor Soludo institutes routine training and retraining programs for the Udo ga Achi security outfit, ensuring they are not politicized or turned into tools of oppression”.
“In addition, there is an urgent need to form a consortium of independent advisers, men and women of integrity, proven credibility, and reputable backgrounds, who will periodically audit, review, and guide the operations of local security groups in the state”.
“Security is not merely the absence of violence and crime; it is the presence of trust, dignity, and justice. When those tasked with protecting us become agents of humiliation, the very foundation of our society trembles. As a nation, we must rise and declare: Never again”.
“Two days ago, a deeply disturbing video clip surfaced online. In it, Miss Elohor was subjected to an act so vile and dehumanizing that it shook the conscience of all who watched it”.
“Here was a defenseless young woman, a daughter, a sister, a potential mother, stripped of her dignity and brutalized by those whose very mandate under Anambra State laws was supposed to guarantee her protection. Instead of being her shield, they became her tormentors”.
“I forced myself to watch the deeply disturbing clip, and my heart ached, my spirit recoiled and my eyes welled up with tears. For what crime, I ask, can such barbarity ever be justified? What conceivable offence could warrant the stripping naked of an unarmed young lady in her own Corpers’ Lodge; a sanctuary that ought to be a safe haven, not a theatre of humiliation?”
“This, without a doubt, is not just an ‘incident’. It is a national shame. It is the very definition of excessive lawlessness. The degrading treatment of Miss Elohor is not only a personal tragedy but also a direct affront to the sanctity of the national youth service scheme, a program designed to foster unity, service, and nationhood. When those entrusted with local security turn into predators, we are not merely facing a lapse in judgment; we are staring at the collapse of order”.
“Let me be clear: I am not opposed to the establishment of local vigilante groups; I have always supported and sanctioned them. In fact, when properly structured, trained, and monitored, such outfits can be indispensable to community policing and security. However, I have consistently emphasized that recruitment must be thorough, profiling must be rigorous, and training must be both professional and humane”.
“What we witnessed in that clip was not the conduct of disciplined security personnel; it was the raw brutality of criminal rogues hiding under the cloak of state authority.
I read, though yet to be fully verified, that Governor Soludo has arrested and/or dismissed the culprits. If that is true, it is a welcome first step. But let it be known that dismissal is not justice”.
