The lawyer representing several National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were brutally assaulted by vigilante operatives in Anambra State has made a shocking revelation, alleging that the security outfit attempted to buy the silence of the victims with cash payments.
According to the lawyer, Cyrus Onu, members of the local vigilante group, which operates under the codename “Operation Udo-ga-achi,” distributed sums of money ranging from N10,000 to as much as N100,000 to the corps members as part of what they described as “compensation and transport fare.” However, Onu insisted that the cash gifts were nothing short of bribes meant to suppress the truth and prevent the victims from speaking out publicly about the violent assault they had endured.
Onu explained in detail that six of the NYSC members were handed N10,000 each, while other victims received higher amounts, including N25,000, N50,000, and even up to N100,000. He emphasized that these payments were strategically offered to coerce the corps members into silence and discourage them from pursuing justice.
Among the victims was Jennifer Edema Elohor, who suffered a particularly harrowing ordeal after being stripped naked and mercilessly beaten in public, despite her desperate cries for help and pleas for mercy.
The other corps members who were subjected to similar acts of violence and humiliation include Greatness Oyeh, Eze Ikenna Emmanuel, Anighoro Godspower, Amore Mordecai Feyisara, and Beauty Chimenum Wonodi. Each of them reportedly sustained both physical injuries and emotional trauma as a result of the attack.
Onu revealed that alongside the cash inducement, the vigilante operatives explicitly warned the corps members not to discuss the incident with anyone, stressing that their safety and even their lives depended on their silence. The victims, he said, were placed under immense psychological pressure as the threats compounded the trauma they had already suffered from the physical assault.
The lawyer further disclosed that he had officially petitioned the NYSC authorities to relocate all of the affected corps members immediately, citing credible threats to their security if they remained in Anambra State. He insisted that the safety of the young Nigerians should be prioritized, especially given the intimidation they continue to face.
In his statement, Onu did not stop at the vigilantes but also leveled strong accusations against the Anambra State Police Command. He alleged that some officers attempted to cover up the case by deliberately ignoring the initial complaints and even going as far as assisting the vigilantes in erasing video evidence of the assault from the victims’ mobile devices.
“From the very beginning, the police knew about the attack, yet they refused to act,” Onu said. “Jennifer even shared the video evidence with the Police Public Relations Officer, who assured her that the matter would be handled. Unfortunately, no action was taken until the incident drew widespread public attention.”
As part of his legal action, the lawyer is demanding N1 billion in compensation for the victims, arguing that the violent ordeal has caused them severe physical pain, deep psychological scars, and long-lasting emotional trauma that cannot be overlooked.
However, when contacted by PUNCH, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, denied the allegations of a cover-up. He explained that the delay in commencing a full investigation stemmed from the temporary unavailability of Jennifer, who was a key witness. Ikenga stressed that the police remain committed to upholding justice and assured the public that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness.
The disturbing incident has since sparked outrage among the public, with many Nigerians calling for transparency, accountability, and justice for the assaulted NYSC members. As the case continues to unfold, pressure mounts on both the vigilante group and the police to face the consequences of their alleged misconduct while the victims await redress for the humiliation and suffering inflicted upon them.