…the dismissed Agunechemba officers are to be handed over to the Nigeria Police for criminal investigation.
AWKA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Anambra State Government has dismissed eight operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit for the brutal assault and public humiliation of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Jennifer Elobor.
The action was announced on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Awka.
Emeakayi described the assault carried out while Agunechemba officers were allegedly chasing suspected cultists as “totally outside the mandate of the security outfit and utterly condemnable.”
According to him, the state acted immediately upon receiving credible reports of the incident. “This administration will not tolerate unprofessionalism, brutality, or any abuse of office by security operatives,” he declared. “Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution.”
The dismissed Agunechemba officers are to be handed over to the Nigeria Police for criminal investigation and possible charges, although the police spokesperson in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls for confirmation at the time of filing this report.
Sources close to the victim revealed that Miss Elobor, who was returning from a community outreach event, was mistaken for an accomplice and was violently attacked, stripped, and left traumatised in public. The shocking nature of the assault has stirred outrage online and within the NYSC community.
Despite appeals from the victim’s family and NYSC officials for a quiet resolution, the state government insisted on full transparency and accountability, stating that justice must be seen to be done.
Emeakayi confirmed that the state government had paid the victim’s medical expenses, replaced her damaged items including a laptop and mobile phone and issued a formal apology to her, her family, the NYSC and the general public.
“This is not just about punishment. It is about setting a standard. We want the people of Anambra to trust their local security teams, and this will be a turning point,” he said.
The state’s handling of the case has received commendations from rights advocates, who noted the rarity of such swift government action in cases of security brutality.
Emeakayi reiterated the Soludo administration’s zero-tolerance policy for abuse of power by any agency, stressing the importance of restoring public trust.
“This government is committed to professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights in all its security engagements,” he said.
As of press time, public calls continued for a full public inquiry into the incident, as well as long-term reforms in the Agunechemba outfit to prevent future abuses.
