‘They Threatened to Rape and Kill her’ — Lawyer as Anambra Govt Arrests, Dismisses 8 Vigilante Members for Stripping Female Corper

• My heart is broken — Peter Obi ‘weeps’; demands immediate justice for victim

Cyrus Onu, a lawyer for the assaulted female NYSC member, has said that the perpetrators had threatened to rape and kill her for speaking out during the incident.

He spoke as Anambra State Government, on Wednesday dismissed 8 members of Agunechemba vigilante group involved in the beating and stripping of the female youth corper in the state.

They have been handed over to the police for prosecution according to latest reports.

Giving a graphic details of what transpired, the lawyer said; “They [security agents] were banging the door, and Jennifer was trying to open the door, and they just kicked the door, and it almost hit their face.

“Most of them were masked in mufti with guns, so you can imagine how scared the kids [corps members] were.

“They [security agents] didn’t give any identification. They just said, ‘Come down, come down. You’re all thieves! You’re all ‘Yahoo’ people!’

“When they tried to drag them downstairs, Jennifer was insisting that if they must take them anywhere, they should allow them [corps members] to call their LGI [Local Government Inspector] because the corps members did not know who the operatives were,” the lawyer said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned in strong terms the inhumane treatment meted out to a young lady in Anambra State, describing it as “wickedness and savagery” that has no place in a civilised society.

Advertisement

Obi who reacted via his verified X handle on Tuesday evening, August 19, 2025, said he read the report on newsexpressngr.com with deep concern, and was left ashamed and heartbroken that such cruelty could happen in 2025.

“I strongly condemn this act of wickedness and savagery. No society should ever tolerate the abuse, humiliation, and dehumanisation of its citizens — least of all the vulnerable and women. What happened is not only a violation of law and morality, but also a direct assault on our collective humanity. That young girl could have been anyone’s daughter, sister, or even mine,” Obi stated.

Calling for urgent action, Obi urged the authorities to ensure that those responsible are apprehended, prosecuted, and made examples to deter future acts of barbarism. He further appealed for stronger safeguards and communal values to protect the vulnerable and uphold human dignity.

“We must awaken our conscience and work collectively to build a society where justice is swift, compassion is active, and the dignity of every human being – especially the young and vulnerable – is inviolable,” he said, stressing that “our humanity must always come first. Without it, we are nothing but a people adrift in cruelty.”