The Anambra State Government has dismissed eight operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit for their role in the brutal assault and public stripping of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Jennifer Elobor.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, announced the dismissal on Wednesday at the Agunechemba headquarters in Awka.
Emeakayi said the state government acted immediately after receiving reports of the incident, stressing that the operatives would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
According to him, the operatives were in pursuit of suspected cultists on July 23 when they assaulted corps members, an action he described as “totally outside the mandate of the agency and utterly condemnable.”
He said, “The Soludo administration will not tolerate any form of unprofessionalism, brutality, or abuse of office by security operatives. Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution.”
Emeakayi noted that despite pleas from the victim’s family and NYSC officials not to prolong the case, the government insisted on full investigation and accountability. He added that the corps member’s medical bills had been paid, her damaged items such as laptops and phones replaced, and a public apology tendered.
He stressed that the case would serve as a turning point for reforms in community security operations to restore public trust.
However, efforts to confirm from the police whether the operatives had been handed over were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond.
Meanwhile, the NYSC management expressed sadness over the assault. Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, in a statement, condemned the incident, describing the conduct of the operatives as unacceptable and dehumanising.
The statement read, “While appreciating the concern of the general public over this horrific incident, as well as the initial measures taken by the Anambra State Government, management wishes to assure the general public that it believes in, and supports the ongoing investigation by the Nigeria Police Force towards unravelling what transpired. This we trust will help get justice for the corps member in question and any other aggrieved party.”
The NYSC also said administrative steps were being taken to assist the corps member in managing the psychological trauma, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare and security of corps members nationwide.
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