The Delta State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has issued a strong condemnation following the violent assault on Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a corps member from Delta State currently serving in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Miss Elohor was reportedly subjected to inhumane treatment by members of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, in an incident that has sparked widespread outrage after video footage of the assault circulated online. The disturbing video shows the young woman being stripped and physically assaulted by multiple vigilante operatives.
Describing the act as “barbaric, dehumanizing, and a gross violation of human rights,” the NYCN in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Tomi Akporoghene Wojuola, called for immediate action by relevant authorities.
“This reprehensible act violates Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees that no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment,” the statement read. “It also breaches several provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The council condemned the vigilante group’s actions and decried the failure of local security oversight, especially in areas where corps members are deployed for national service.
“As the apex youth body in Delta State, we consider this not just an attack on one individual, but an affront to the dignity of all Delta youths, particularly our graduates serving the nation through the NYSC scheme,” the council noted.
The NYCN issued a five-point demand directed at the Government of Anambra State, the NYSC Directorate, and the Nigeria Police Force, including:
- Immediate arrest and prosecution of all vigilante members involved.
- A public apology and adequate compensation to the victim.
- Stricter regulation and oversight of vigilante groups in Anambra State.
- Concrete assurances of safety for all corps members, especially women, serving in volatile or poorly regulated areas.
- A temporary suspension of the deployment of Delta State indigenes to Anambra State under the NYSC scheme until justice is served.
The NYCN affirmed its commitment to monitoring the case until justice is achieved and reiterated that every Nigerian youth, regardless of where they serve, deserves to do so with dignity, safety, and respect.
“The youths of Delta State stand firmly with Miss Elohor. This assault will not be swept under the carpet,” the statement concluded.
