Jennifer Elohor, a 28-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member from Delta State, was violently attacked and humiliated by armed vigilantes in Anambra State.
The incident, which happened at her lodge in Idemili South Local Government Area, has triggered outrage after videos of the assault circulated online.
On July 23, 2025, Elohor and several fellow corps members were suddenly confronted at their accommodation by a group of masked men wielding weapons. Without any identification or explanation, the disguised individuals forcibly broke into the lodge and ordered the young people outside. Feeling threatened, the corps members insisted they were law-abiding service members and showed their official identification. Despite these efforts, the attackers accused them of involvement in Internet fraud and began searching their belongings.
The assailants, numbering more than the eight claimed by authorities, ransacked the premises and confiscated phones and laptops. Elohor recalls how she was singled out for defiance, beaten with sticks and guns, and had her clothes torn off, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. She described the terrifying ordeal of being dragged naked into a vehicle, threatened with death, and taken along a hidden bush route to a remote location used by the vigilante group.
The corps members maintained their innocence, despite the trauma. Only after their school’s proprietor intervened were they released. Elohor reveals that even after the ordeal, the vigilantes pressed for bribes before allowing them to leave.
The following day, the Local Government Inspector (LGI), Mr. Anayo, visited the victims but made statements many found insensitive, telling the young women that their abuse might prepare them for future marriages to men who mistreat women. Efforts to ensure the apprehended attackers remain in custody have been met with frustration, as Elohor later spotted some of the same masked men freely roaming the area.
When they first barged in, I thought they were robbers. But they quickly began accusing us of fraudulent activities without proof. I tried to protect myself, but they stripped me naked and beat me mercilessly. It was humiliating and terrifying. I begged them to let me wear something before they took me away, but they refused. I felt completely helpless, bleeding, and exposed
Referring to the LGI’s response, she said
The LGI told us to calm down and called this ‘training’. How can someone say that after such a brutal assault?
An eyewitness among the corps members explained
They warned that if any male corps members approached, they would shoot them. We were terrified for our lives
Elohor is determined to pursue justice, emphasizing that this mistreatment cannot go unpunished. As she prepares to complete her National Service in October, she confronts the challenge of returning to the same lodge where she suffered. The incident raises serious concerns about the activities of unofficial security groups and the protection of corps members in the state. Advocates call for thorough investigations and accountability to prevent future abuses of power.
This is disheartening. A proper independent investigation should be done in order to bring perpetrators to book