The Anambra State Government has dismissed eight operatives of the Agunechemba Security outfit for their involvement in the brutal assault and public humiliation of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Jennifer Elobor.
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, announced the decision on Wednesday at the agency’s headquarters in Awka, describing the action of the dismissed operatives as “a gross abuse of authority and a complete departure from their mandate.”
Emeakayi explained that the officers, who were allegedly in pursuit of suspected cultists on Tuesday, assaulted and stripped Miss Elobor — an act he said could not be justified under any circumstance.
“This administration will not tolerate unprofessional conduct, brutality, or abuse of power by any security operative,” Emeakayi declared. “Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution.”
The dismissed operatives, he added, will be handed over to the police for criminal investigation and possible prosecution.
The state government has also covered Miss Elobor’s medical treatment and replaced her damaged belongings, including a laptop and mobile phone.
Emeakayi further issued a formal apology on behalf of the government to the victim, her family, the NYSC, and the Nigerian public, stressing that such abuses undermine confidence in security institutions.
Despite appeals from some quarters for a discreet resolution, the government insisted on transparency and accountability.
“We cannot sweep such an act under the carpet. This case will set a precedent. Officers must know that misconduct attracts consequences,” Emeakayi said.
The incident, he added, marks a turning point in ongoing efforts to reform community-based security in Anambra.
“This government is fully committed to professionalism, accountability, and the protection of human rights in all its security efforts,” he stressed.
Miss Elobor’s ordeal has sparked widespread outrage, with many civil society groups demanding stronger oversight of non-state security outfits operating in the country.