The Anambra State Government has fired eight vigilante operatives for brutally assaulting and publicly stripping a female corps member, Miss Jennifer Elobor.
Ken Emeakayi, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, made the announcement at the agency’s headquarters in Awka on Wednesday.
Emeakayi stated that the government responded quickly after receiving information of the incident and that the vigilante operatives will be turned over to the police for punishment.
According to him, the discharged vigilante operatives were pursuing suspected cultists on Tuesday when they attacked the corps member, which 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.”
Despite pleas from the victim’s family and National Youth Service Corps authorities for a peaceful ending, the state administration insisted on a thorough inquiry and accountability as a deterrent.
Emeakayi further stated that the government had already paid the victim’s medical bills, replaced her destroyed belongings, including a laptop and phone, and issued a public apology to her family, NYSC, and the general public.
He stated that the tragedy would serve as a watershed moment in overhauling the organisation and restoring public trust in community security activities.
“This government is committed to professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights in all security engagements,” he stressed.
When approached for confirmation that the operatives had been given up to the police, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not return calls or messages
