James Uche
A female member of the National Youth Service Corps, Jennifer Elohor, has narrated how she was assaulted and humiliated by operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, who stormed her residence, dragged her out with her colleagues, and subjected them to physical violence.
Elohor recounted the incident in an interview with media personality, Aprokoking, on Wednesday. She explained that the assault took place on July 13, around 5 p.m., at the lodge where she and other corps members were staying.
According to her, she and her colleagues were inside their flat in a three-storey building when they heard a series of loud knocks. At first, they assumed the noise was from a neighbour’s door, but the knocking intensified and soon their own door was kicked open.
A masked man wielding a gun burst into the room without any identification or uniform, she said.
“At first, I thought it was an armed robber until he ordered all of us to step outside. I tried to explain that we were corps members and even offered to present my NYSC ID card. My colleagues also showed theirs, but they completely ignored us,” Elohor narrated.
She explained that the armed men ransacked their room, seized their phones and laptops, and turned violent.
“They pushed us down the stairs, nearly throwing me off balance. They kept asking what gave me, as a woman, the right to question them. It was only when we got outside and saw their vehicle that we realised they were vigilantes,” she said.
Elohor added that when they attempted to call their lodge manager or NYSC officials to inform them of what was happening, the vigilantes became more brutal.
“They beat me mercilessly, tore my clothes, and even struck one of my colleagues with an iron rod for pleading on my behalf. They forced us into their vehicle, pressing my neck, slapping me, and threatening to smash our phones if we contacted anyone,” she recounted.
A video of the incident, which surfaced online on Tuesday, showed armed vigilantes invading the corps members’ lodge and accusing them of being internet fraudsters, despite clear evidence of their NYSC uniforms and ID cards. The clip further showed Elohor being beaten despite her desperate pleas.
The video sparked widespread outrage on social media, with Nigerians condemning the actions of the vigilantes and calling for justice.
In response, the Anambra State Government confirmed that those involved in the assault had been identified, arrested, and dismissed from their positions. Authorities assured that further action would be taken against them.