(DDM) – Outrage has erupted in Anambra State after a female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was brutally assaulted and stripped naked by operatives suspected to be from the Udo Ga Achi security outfit, also known as the Agunechemba vigilante group.
(DDM) gathered that the shocking incident took place on July 23, 2025, when the vigilantes reportedly stormed the lodge of corps members and accused them of being involved in internet fraud.
Eyewitnesses said that despite presenting their NYSC identity cards and uniforms as evidence of their legitimate status, the vigilantes dismissed the corps members’ explanations and descended on one of them.
The victim was later identified as Jennifer Edema Elobor, a serving corps member in the state.
According to multiple sources, Jennifer was physically assaulted, beaten mercilessly, and stripped of her clothes during the violent encounter, leaving her exposed in public view.
Disturbing footage of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, showed the young woman screaming for help as the vigilantes attacked her.
Witnesses also claimed that the vigilante operatives subjected her to degrading insults and sexually abusive remarks while she struggled helplessly.
The incident has provoked widespread condemnation from civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and the general public.
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), The Haven Foundation, issued a strong statement denouncing the assault and demanding immediate government action.
“The assault was brutal and inhumane. We demand the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, as well as compensation for the victims,” the foundation declared.
The NGO further called on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to intervene decisively, insisting that justice must not be delayed.
It also urged the Federal Government, civil society organizations, and all Nigerians to rise in solidarity with the victim and press for accountability.
Analysts note that the Udo Ga Achi vigilante group was launched earlier in 2025 as a community-driven initiative to curb kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism across the state.
However, critics argue that the group has been operating without sufficient oversight, raising fears of abuses and extrajudicial practices.
This latest assault has therefore thrown the legitimacy of the vigilante body into question, sparking debate on whether local security groups should be better regulated.
For NYSC members, who are deployed nationwide as part of their mandatory one-year service, safety has always been a major concern.
Observers warn that such attacks could discourage young graduates from serving in volatile regions, thereby undermining the goals of national integration.
As outrage spreads, many Nigerians online have demanded immediate justice for Jennifer, with hashtags calling for Governor Soludo and security authorities to take swift action.
At press time, neither the state government nor the vigilante leadership had issued an official statement addressing the incident.