Assaulted Corps Members Sue Anambra Government for N1bn

Six National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members have filed a N1 billion lawsuit against the Anambra State Government over an alleged assault and unlawful detention by members of the state’s vigilante group, Agunechemba.

The plaintiffs — Jennifer Elohor, Greatness Oyeh, Eze Ikenna, Anighoro Godspower, Feyisara Amore, and Chimenum Wonodi — lodged the case at the Federal High Court in Awka through their counsel, Cyrus Onu.

Their suit follows a viral video that surfaced in August showing armed vigilante operatives assaulting the corps members at their lodge. One of them, Elohor, was reportedly beaten and stripped naked during the incident. The vigilante group allegedly accused the corps members of being internet fraudsters and attacked them despite their efforts to prove their NYSC status with their identity cards.

In the suit marked FHC/298/2025, the corps members listed the Anambra State Government, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the State Attorney-General, and the Agunechemba Vigilante Group as first to fourth respondents. They are demanding N1 billion in damages for the physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and mental trauma they claim to have suffered.

They also seek a court declaration that their arrest, detention, torture, and abuse were unlawful, unconstitutional, and an infringement of their fundamental rights. Additionally, they are asking the court to compel the respondents to issue a written public apology to be published in at least two national newspapers and one local newspaper in Anambra State.