“Justice Must Be Swift”: Delta Senator Demands Compensation for NYSC Member Assaulted by Anambra Vigilantes

Ede Dafinone, senator representing Delta Central, has strongly condemned the brutal assault on Edema Jennifer Elohor, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Oba, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.

In a statement released Wednesday, Dafinone described the attack by the Agunechemba security outfit as “inhuman, barbaric, and a direct affront to the ideals of national service and unity.”

“No Nigerian citizen, especially a young woman serving her fatherland, should ever be subjected to such dehumanising treatment,” the senator said.

Video footage circulating online shows vigilantes storming the corps members’ lodge and assaulting them despite their valid NYSC identification cards. Jennifer, according to Dafinone, was beaten, stripped, left bleeding, and subjected to humiliating threats of a sexual nature.

“This is an unimaginable ordeal that no parent should have to witness,” he said.

The senator criticised the actions of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, warning about the dangers posed by unregulated armed groups. “We cannot allow untrained, heavily armed individuals to terrorise law-abiding citizens. Those responsible must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted immediately,” he urged.

Dafinone called on the Anambra State government to provide compensation for Jennifer, addressing her physical, psychological, and emotional trauma. He stressed that restoring her dignity is a minimum obligation and that decisive action is needed to prevent future incidents.

The senator also appealed to NYSC authorities to ensure the safety of corps members in Anambra and other high-risk areas, emphasizing that parents trust the government to protect their children while serving the nation.

Describing the attack as “a test of Nigeria’s resolve against impunity,” Dafinone warned that failure to act would send a dangerous message that citizens’ rights can be violated with impunity.

“Jennifer’s ordeal is not just her story — it is a wake-up call for all of us. Justice must be swift, perpetrators punished, and reforms implemented to prevent such shameful abuse from recurring,” he concluded.