Anambra State government has dismissed eight operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit in the state over the assault on a female National Youth Service Corps member, Jennifer Elohor.
This came as the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, condemned the assault on Elohor, demanding the prosecution of those involved in what it described as an “inhumane” act.
NBA in a statement by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and National Secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, frowned on the action, calling it a “direct violation of her dignity and fundamental human rights” and a “barbaric treatment.”
It said: “The NBA commends the Anambra State government for its swift action in identifying and arresting the operatives responsible. This decisive move reflects commendable responsiveness to public outrage.
“However, accountability must not stop at arrest. The NBA insists that the perpetrators must be promptly and diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, to serve as both redress for Ms. Elohor and deterrence against similar abuses in the future.”
The NBA said the incident “highlights the urgent need for comprehensive training, reorientation, and continuous capacity-building of security operatives.
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“Respect for human rights, professionalism, and restraint must be embedded in their conduct at all times.”
It asked the Anambra State government to ensure that “mechanisms are put in place to prevent the recurrence of such violations and to reassure citizens that the forces meant to protect them will not become agents of abuse,” promising to ensure justice for Elohor.
Meanwhile, Cyrus Onu, lawyer to Elohor, has said the culprits had threatened to rape and kill her for speaking out during the assault.
Onu, said: “They (security agents) were banging the door, and she was trying to open the door, and they just kicked the door, and it almost hit their faces.
“Most of them were masked in mufti with guns, so you can imagine how scared the kids (corps members) were.
“They (security agents) didn’t give any identification. They just said, ‘Come down, come down. You’re all thieves! You’re all ‘Yahoo’ people.’
“When they tried to drag them downstairs, Elohor was insisting that if they must take them anywhere, they should allow them (corps members) to call their LGI (Local Government Inspector) because the corps members did not know who the operatives were,” the lawyer said on Channels Television, yesterday.
“That was when they started pouncing on her. They made derogatory comments, asking her who gave her the right as a lady to speak to them anyhow. They started beating her.
“She asked them to allow her to change into something appropriate, and they said, ‘That thing you’re trying to cover, we’ll see it today. We’ll beat you up, we’ll rape you, kill you and dump you and nobody can say anything.”
The lawyer also claimed that the security agents threatened to kill her colleagues for trying to defend her.
Credible News reports that on Monday, a video of armed security operatives of the Operation Udo Ga-Achi, also known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, assaulting the corps member went viral.
Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi said the state had also covered the victim’s medical bills, replaced her damaged valuables and tendered a public apology to her family and the NYSC.
Emeakayi disclosed that the operatives, who claimed they were in pursuit of suspected cultists, acted outside their mandate and would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“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,” he said, stressing that the case would mark a turning point in reforming community security operations in the state.
Crediblenewsng.com
Those that assaulted her should face the law. Good job from the Anambra state government!
Anambra state government did a great work on this. They need to face the law!