By Obinna Uballa
Widespread outrage has trailed a viral video showing members of a local vigilante outfit in Anambra State assaulting and stripping a female corps member, Jennifer Edema Elohor.
The video, shared by the Haven 360 Foundation on Facebook, captured operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi — also called the Agunechemba Vigilante Group — storming a corps members’ lodge and brutalising Elohor alongside some of her colleagues.
According to the foundation, the vigilantes accused the corps members of being internet fraudsters, but still descended on them despite their presentation of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) identity cards.
“The assault was particularly egregious in the case of Jennifer Edema Elohor, who was beaten, stripped naked, and left exposed and covered in blood,” Haven 360 wrote.
“The victims were subjected to unsavoury, horrible, sexually degrading words and actions, including threats of sexual violation.”
The incident, which occurred on July 23, 2025, has sparked strong condemnations from civil society groups and Nigerians online, with many demanding accountability from Governor Charles Soludo’s administration.
Reacting on Facebook, Ikechukwu Godspower flayed the vigilantes for targeting innocent corps members while leaving real criminals untouched. “Very useless people, why can’t you go after kidnappers and criminals,” he wrote.
Victor Nnamdi Pius-Ekwebelem accused Governor Soludo of empowering the group to carry out inappropriate conducts.“Academic professor in the person of Chukwuma Soludo recruited these miscreants to terrorize his subjects, just like the criminal gang of those that call themselves agitators,” he alleged.
Similarly, lawyer Kenneth Ikonne described the assault as “bestiality,” noting that the same vigilante group had in the past been linked to the killing of a former chairman of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce without consequences. “This time, the NYSC authorities must take this up and hold these beasts to account,” he said.
Other social media users also vented anger. “Solution is working. All his daft so-called data boys will not say anything about this. They are too busy with Peter Obi,” Obiora Nwankwo mocked, using the governor’s political nickname, “Solution.”
“Last month they killed for urinating in an open place. Today na NYSC dem dey beat. They need to reign in these guys before they cross the expressway,” wrote Uzoma Ndukwu.
Another commentator, Ogechi Owoh, warned that violence against women was being normalised. “Stripping women naked is about to be normalized in Nigeria. Those of you that justified the stripping of Comfort should also come and justify this. The perverts always waiting for women to be stripped naked… oya food don done,” she posted.
