By Peterside Rejoice
The Anambra State Government has strongly condemned the assault of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member by operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Group in Oba, Idemili South Local Council, pledging that justice will be served.
Findings by the NYSC revealed that members of the vigilante group stormed a corps lodge in Oba, alleging that the occupants were engaged in illegal activities an allegation yet to be substantiated.
During the operation, a corps member, Edema Elohor Jennifer (AN/24C/0626), who was visiting the lodge at the time, was reportedly assaulted by the operatives.
Reacting to the incident, the state government, through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, described the attack as “disturbing and unacceptable.”
“We are appalled by the video circulating online showing a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) being assaulted and harassed by members of Operation Udo Ga-Achi,” Mefor said.
He stressed that the state’s security outfits Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi were established under the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025 to protect lives and property, not to intimidate or brutalise innocent citizens.
According to him, the outfits have contributed significantly to peace and order in the state since their inauguration on January 18, 2025, but any form of assault carried out by their personnel falls outside their mandate and code of conduct.
“Those involved in the assault of the corps member will face the full weight of the law. The government wishes to reassure corps members serving in Anambra that they have nothing to fear. They should go about their national service without intimidation,” he added.
The government commended the police and leadership of Operation Udo Ga-Achi for swiftly arresting the suspects linked to the assault and urged the victim to cooperate with ongoing investigations to ensure justice is not delayed.
Under Section 351 of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria, assault is defined as the unlawful and intentional application of force on another person without their consent. It is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment of up to one year for common assault, and up to three years if the assault causes actual bodily harm.
In addition, the NYSC Act of 1993 (Section 19) provides that “any person who assaults, obstructs or molests a corps member in the course of his or her official duty commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 12 months or a fine, or both.”
This means that the suspects, if found guilty, not only face prosecution under the Nigerian Criminal Code but also risk additional penalties under the NYSC Act, alongside dismissal from the state security outfit.
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