According to FENRAD, Ms. Elobor was violently attacked and stripped in public by the vigilante group, an act the organisation described as “inhumane, degrading and a gross violation of human dignity.” The group noted that the incident constitutes a breach of Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees citizens freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
FENRAD warned that the attack on Ms. Elobor, who is currently serving her country, represents a dangerous precedent and an affront to Nigerian youths, women, and the ideals of national service.
The organisation called for urgent actions, including: the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the assault, a full judicial inquiry into the operations of Operation Udo Ga Chi and similar vigilante groups in Anambra and other southeastern states, Possible disbandment or restructuring of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group if found culpable in systematic rights violations, A public apology and compensation for Ms. Elobor and Stronger protections for corps members by the NYSC Directorate and relevant federal agencies.
While acknowledging the role of community-based security in addressing insecurity, FENRAD emphasised that vigilante groups must operate within the law. The organisation condemned what it described as “the normalisation of jungle justice, sexual humiliation, and extrajudicial practices under the guise of community protection,” insisting that such practices are dangerous and unacceptable.
It further urged the Inspector-General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organisations to take up the matter as a “litmus test for human rights enforcement” in Nigeria’s decentralised security landscape.
FENRAD reaffirmed its solidarity with Ms. Elobor and her family, calling on Nigerians to demand accountability and protection of human dignity. “Justice for Jennifer Elobor is justice for all,” the organisation declared.
