*’They Called Me Prostitute, Threatened To Shoot Me, Toss My Corpse In The Bush’
*NYSC Condemns Action
JENNIFER Elohor Edema, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who was recently assaulted and abducted by operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, Agunechemba.
Recall that on August 19, a video emerged showing the operatives physically attacking Jennifer and other NYSC members at their lodge in Anambra State on July 23, after accusing them of involvement in Internet fraud, despite properly identifying themselves as corps members.
The vigilantes’ action has since attracted public outrage and reprimand and sanction by the state government.
In an interview with socia media influencer, Aprokoking, Elohor recounted the incident that started around 5pm on the (un)fateful day at their Lodge in Oba, Idemili South Local Council, and demanded justice.
“My co-corpers and I were in our Lodge charging our phones and minding our business. We heard a knock on the door. At first, we thought it was our neighbour’s door being knocked on, because it was a three-storey building with a lot of flats
“At first, we thought it was our neighbour’s door being knocked on, because it was a three-storey building with a lot of flats.
“We ignored it the first time until we heard it again. This time, it was way more aggressive. I decided to go and check who was on the other end. Before I got there, the door was kicked in. If I had taken a step further, the door would have hit me.
“I saw a masked man with a gun. He wasn’t wearing any form of uniform; no form of identification. At first, I was afraid that it was an armed robber until I heard him say, ‘all of you, outside.’ I summoned a little courage to ask why, that all of us are corpers in the room.
“In the middle of that argument, my colleagues came to ask what was going on. I told them he was ordering us out for reasons he’s not disclosing. He didn’t tell us where he’s coming from or introduce himself.
“My colleague brought his ID and told the others to do the same. But they ignored us. They forced their way into our rooms, searched out laptops and phones. They became aggressive and said we were doing yahoo. We tried to explain.
“Some of us were not with our IDs because we came for our PPAs. We showed them our NYSC portals. But they pushed us downstairs. They asked me why I was challenging them as a woman.
“When we got downstairs, we saw their vehicle and realised they’re an Anambra vigilante group. Even if we were to go with them to their office, we should call our LGI or proprietor, so that they know, since we didn’t know where we were being taken.
“That was when they started beating me, asking what gave me the right to question them. They said they would smash our phones if we called anyone. They beat me, tore my clothes. One of my colleagues was pleading on my behalf, but they hit her with an iron rod.
“I requested to change into new clothes, but they refused and tossed me into the vehicle. They slapped me, called me a prostitute. They threatened to shoot me and toss my corpse in the bush. They picked nine of us, all corpers.”
“We asked to give them our LGI’s number. They refused. They took us to their secretariat in Oba.
“I want justice; I want those people punished in the best way possible.”
Meanwhile, the NYSC has strongly condemned the action.
While acknowkedging that the matter has been reported to the Police and investigations and other necessary actions are ongoing, it restated “its strong commitment to the welfare and security of its corps members nationwide,” saying it “would not condone any individual or group of persons that undermines the security of corps members for whatsoever reasons.”
Additionally: “Members of the public are enjoined to provide adequate security for our corps members in all their respective places of primary assignment and host communities.”
In a related development, wife of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Nonye, on Wednesday, August 20, reached out to Jennifer to sympathise with her.
She told journalists in Awka, the state capital, that she had invited Jennifer to Government House for a meeting over the incident.
“I was deeply disturbed by the way that young lady was assaulted. There is absolutely no justification for such a cruel and humiliating act.
“I have reached out to the corps member to check on her well-being and extended an invitation to her,” she said.
