Jennifer Elohor Edema, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who was assaulted by operatives of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group in Anambra State, has shared a saddening account of her experience.
A viral video released on August 19 captured the moment armed vigilantes stormed the corps members’ lodge in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, on July 23.
Elohor was seen being beaten and stripped, even as she and her colleagues identified themselves as corps members.
The vigilantes reportedly accused them of internet fraud, seized their phones and laptops, and subjected them to brutal physical assault.
Despite presenting their NYSC identification cards and portals, they were ignored.
Public outrage over the incident has led to the arrest of the vigilante members and strong reactions from the NYSC.
In an interview with Aprokoking, an internet personality, Elohor narrated the attack, saying, “My co-corpers and I were in our lodge charging our phones and minding our business. We heard a knock on the door. At first, we thought it was our neighbour’s door being knocked on, because it was a three-storey building with a lot of flats.
“We ignored it the first time until we heard it again. This time, it was way more aggressive. I decided to go and check who was on the other end. Before I got there, the door was kicked in. If I had taken a step further, the door would have hit me.
“I saw a masked man with a gun. He wasn’t wearing any form of uniform. No form of identification. At first, I was afraid that it was an armed robber until I heard him say, ‘all of you, outside.’ I summoned a little courage to ask why.
“All of us are corpers in the room. In the middle of that argument, my colleagues came to ask what was going on. I told them he was ordering us out for reasons he’s not disclosing. He didn’t tell us where he’s coming from or introduce himself.
“My colleague brought his ID and told the others to do the same. But they ignored us. They forced their way into our rooms, searched out laptops and phones. They became aggressive and said we were doing yahoo. We tried to explain,” she continued.
“Some of us were not with our IDs because we came for our PPAs. We showed them our NYSC portals. But they pushed us downstairs.
“They asked me why I was challenging them as a woman. When we got downstairs, we saw their vehicle and realised they’re an Anambra vigilante group. Even if we were to go with them to their office, we should call our LGI or proprietor so that they know, since we didn’t know where we were being taken.
“That was when they started beating me, asking what gave me the right to question them. They said they would smash our phones if we called anyone. They beat me, tore my clothes. One of my colleagues was pleading on my behalf, but they hit her with an iron rod.
“I requested to change into new clothes, but they refused and tossed me into the vehicle. They slapped me, called me a prostitute. They threatened to shoot me and toss my corpse in the bush. They picked nine of us, all corpers,” Elohor added.
“We asked to give them our LGI’s number. They refused. They took us to their secretariat in Oba.
“I want justice. I want those people punished in the best way possible.”
