Assault on Corps Member a National Shame, Says IPOB Lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor

Human rights lawyer and legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has condemned the assault on a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Jennifer Elohor, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, describing the act as a “national shame” and a stark display of “excessive lawlessness.”

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Ejiofor expressed deep concern over the inhumane treatment of Elohor, emphasizing that the incident is not only a personal violation but a direct insult to the NYSC programme—a symbol of national unity and service. He questioned what offence could justify stripping a defenseless young woman in her own lodge, calling it an unacceptable act of humiliation that should never occur in a civilised society.

Ejiofor recalled watching the disturbing video of the incident, which has been circulating online, and described it as emotionally wrenching. “Here was a young woman, brutally stripped and humiliated by those entrusted to protect her,” he said. While welcoming reports that Governor Chukwuma Soludo may have arrested or dismissed the perpetrators, Ejiofor stressed that dismissal alone is not justice. He called for the offenders to be prosecuted and subjected to the full weight of the law to deter future violations.

He also urged the Anambra State Government to provide full support for Miss Elohor, including trauma counseling, rehabilitation, and medical care. Beyond this case, Ejiofor advocated for the professionalization of local vigilante groups through rigorous recruitment, continuous training, and independent oversight. “Security must be rooted in trust, dignity, and justice,” he concluded. “When protectors become tormentors, the moral fabric of society unravels. As a nation, we must say: Never again.”