*As Nigerians ask FG to sack highway roadblock operatives, dismiss uniform men who collect tolls
The Anambra State Government has dismissed eight vigilante operatives who assaulted a serving female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Edema Jennifer Elohor, in Oba, Idemili-South Local Government Area of the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, who disclosed this in Awka today, stated that the state had also covered the victim’s medical bills, replaced her damaged valuables, and tendered a public apology to her family and the NYSC.
According to Emeakayi, the security men, who claimed they were in pursuit of suspected cultists, acted outside their mandate and would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The Soludo administration will not tolerate any form of unprofessionalism, brutality or abuse of office by security operatives.
“Any officer found guilty of misconduct will face immediate dismissal and prosecution,” he said, adding that the case would mark a turning point in reforming community security operations in the state.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ede Dafinone, the lawmaker representing Delta-Central Senatorial District, has strongly condemned the brutal assault of the Corps Member, describing the act as “barbaric, inhuman, and a disgrace to national service.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, Dafinone decried the attack allegedly carried out by operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, otherwise known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, who were captured in a viral video beating and stripping the corps member naked despite her presenting a valid NYSC identification card.
“No Nigerian citizen, much less a young lady serving her fatherland, should ever be subjected to such dehumanising treatment,” the Senator said.
He demanded immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators to serve as a deterrence, while also calling on the Anambra State Government to compensate the victim for the trauma and damages suffered.
Dafinone further urged NYSC authorities to take proactive measures to safeguard Corps Members across Anambra, insisting that the trust of parents must not be betrayed by negligence.
When contacted for confirmation on whether the dismissed operatives had been transferred to police custody, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, did not respond to calls or messages sent to him.
Meanwhile, some members of the public are expressing fears over proper prosecution of the felons, adding that “being political thugs who are normally transformed to vigilante during non-election time, but return to gun wielding thugs during elections, “the political leadership would naturally do everything to protect their minions”.
They also expressed worry over the inability of state actors to satisfactory perform the duties for which they are equipped and paid, stressing that “the lame excuses always given by security top hierarchies for obvious failure to perform their duties or the shame on them when non-state actors appear more effective in performing their duties are issues the federal government must end.
” Look across our federal and state highways, we have all forms of holograms, wielding guns, cudgels, matchers, logs of wood, nails affixed on woods, intimidating road users and et times killing people recklessly
“Or do we talk of the impunity of our police and army, who at times unscruplously attack people, burn homes, kill and main, under the excuse of law enforcement, yet, all these impunity are left to go on as if it’s not a serious issue.
“Look at the criminal and shameless manner our military and police collect money from people on the highways. Does this not call for concern? But, as far as our leaders are concerned, it is normal for them to do so,” our respondents stated.
