The 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Chairman of the Human Rights Institute, Sebastian Anyia has strongly condemned the brutal assault of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a serving corps member in Anambra State, by operatives of the Agunaechemba Task Force.
Miss Elohor was stripped, beaten, and publicly humiliated by the task force in an incident that has sparked widespread outrage. The NBA Vice President described the act as “deeply troubling and unacceptable,” insisting that it violated not only the young woman’s dignity but also the constitutional rights of every Nigerian.
While acknowledging the Anambra State Government’s swift dismissal of the operatives involved, the NBA Vice President stressed that mere dismissal was not enough. He called for full prosecution and accountability, warning that no security outfit should operate outside the bounds of human rights protections.
According to the Anyia, “As the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Chairman of the Human Rights Institute, I find the assault on Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, a serving corps member in Anambra State, deeply troubling and unacceptable. The actions of the Agunaechemba Task Force stripping, beating, and publicly humiliating a young woman are not only unlawful but a direct affront to human dignity and the constitutional rights of every Nigerian.
“While the dismissal of the operatives involved is a welcome first step by the Anambra State Government, it is not nearly enough. There must be prosecution and accountability and we must ensure that no security outfit operates outside the bounds of human rights protections.
“This incident is not isolated. The repeated excesses of task forces like Agunaechemba shows a clear pattern of law enforcement operating with indemnity, lacking both oversight and respect for the rule of law. As legal practitioners, we must work with relevant bodies, including the NYSC, and civil societies, to ensure justice is served, not only for Miss Elohor but for every citizen subjected to such abuse.
“In my position, I will be engaging with NBA branches in Anambra to push for a coordinated legal response, including support for the victim and formal petitions to relevant authorities. I will also be recommending regulation and monitoring of state backed security outfits. Nigeria cannot afford to normalize lawlessness under the guise of security. It is time for clear, lawful standards and decisive action to protect the rights of all Nigerians.
“Let this incident be the last of its kind. We must not allow abuse of authority to masquerade as governance, nor permit silence to be mistaken for peace. Justice for Jennifer Edema Elohor must be swift, transparent, and thorough. The time for action is now.”
