Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned the brutal assault and public humiliation of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Anambra State, by local security operatives known as Agunachemba.
Ejiofor described the assault as "deeply dehumanizing" and "shocking to the conscience."
In a statement titled “Midweek Musing: NYSC Lady Brutalized ,A National Shame We Must Never Normalize,” Ejiofor reacted to a widely circulated online video showing the corps member being stripped naked in her lodge an act he called both "barbaric and indefensible."
"My heart ached as I was forced to watch that deeply disturbing clip. 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 place that should serve as a safe haven, not a theatre of humiliation?" he asked.
He stated that the incident should not be dismissed as an isolated occurrence but recognized as a national disgrace symptomatic of the broader culture of lawlessness plaguing the country.
While reiterating his support for community-based security initiatives, Ejiofor noted that he has always endorsed the establishment of local vigilante groups. However, he stressed that such outfits must be properly structured, professionally trained, and strictly monitored.
According to him, recruitment processes should involve thorough screening, rigorous profiling, and training not only in security tactics but also in professional conduct and human rights principles.
“What I witnessed in that clip,” Ejiofor continued, “was not the conduct of disciplined security personnel. It was the raw brutality of criminal rogues hiding under the cloak of state authority.”hr said
The full statement reads, " Two days ago, a deeply disturbing video clip surfaced online. In it, a young Nigerian, Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Anambra State, 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. These individuals must be subjected to the full weight of the law. Anything short of this will embolden others.
Equally, the state government bears both a moral and legal responsibility to support Miss Elohor. Compensation alone is not enough; she must be given access to comprehensive post-trauma counseling, rehabilitation, and medical attention. 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. "
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