Six NYSC Members Sue Anambra Government for ₦1bn Over Alleged Assault and Unlawful Detention by Vigilante Group

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against the Anambra State Government, alleging assault and unlawful detention by operatives of the state’s vigilante group, Agunechemba.

The corps members — Jennifer Elohor, Greatness Oyeh, Eze Ikenna, Anighoro Godspower, Feyisara Amore, and Chimenum Wonodi — instituted the legal action at the Federal High Court in Awka.

The suit follows a viral video from August showing vigilante operatives invading the corps members’ residence and physically assaulting them. One of the victims, Elohor, was reportedly stripped naked and beaten by the armed men.

According to reports, the vigilante group accused the corps members of engaging in internet fraud (“yahoo yahoo”) and attacked them despite their attempts to identify themselves with their NYSC identity cards.

Through their counsel, Cyrus Onu, the plaintiffs named the Anambra State Government, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the State Attorney-General, and the Agunechemba Vigilante Group as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.

In the suit, marked FHC/298/2025, the corps members are demanding ₦1 billion in damages for the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial trauma allegedly suffered during the incident.

They are also asking the court to declare their arrest, torture, and detention as unlawful and unconstitutional, and to compel the respondents to issue a public written apology to be published in at least two national newspapers and one local newspaper in Anambra State.