BY GODWIN OBI
Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have slammed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against the Anambra State Government over alleged assault, unlawful detention, and torture by operatives of the state’s vigilante outfit, Agunechemba.
The corps members — Jennifer Elohor, Greatness Oyeh, Eze Ikenna, Anighoro Godspower, Feyisara Amore, and Chimenum Wonodi — filed the suit before the Federal High Court, Awka, seeking justice for what they described as a gross violation of their fundamental human rights.
Their legal action followed a viral video that surfaced in August, showing armed vigilante operatives storming the corps members’ lodge and assaulting them. In the footage, one of the victims, Elohor, was reportedly beaten and stripped naked despite presenting her NYSC identification.
The vigilantes allegedly accused the corps members of engaging in internet fraud — popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo” — and ignored repeated pleas that they were serving members of the National Youth Service Corps.
Through their counsel, Cyrus Onu, the plaintiffs listed the Anambra State Government, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the State Attorney-General, and the Agunechemba Vigilante Group as the first to fourth respondents in the suit marked FHC/298/2025.
They are demanding ₦1 billion in damages as compensation for the mental, physical, financial, emotional, and psychological trauma allegedly inflicted on them.
The corps members also urged the court to declare their arrest, detention, torture, and abuse as illegal, unlawful, unwarranted, unconstitutional, and a violation of their fundamental rights under the Nigerian Constitution.
In addition to monetary compensation, they are seeking an order compelling the respondents to issue a written public apology, to be published in at least two national newspapers and one local newspaper circulating in Anambra State.
The case is expected to test the extent of state responsibility for the actions of vigilante groups operating under local government supervision.
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