Ex-Labour Party presidential candidate says incident is “a shame on Anambra” and calls for stronger safeguards to protect the vulnerable

 

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed outrage over the brutal assault on a female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

 

The incident, which has drawn nationwide condemnation, followed the circulation of a disturbing video online showing the corps member being beaten and stripped naked by armed operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, also known as Operation Udo Ga-Achi.

 

Reacting in a statement entitled “A Cry for Justice Against Barbarism in Anambra”, Obi said he felt “ashamed as an Anambra man” that such cruelty could happen in the state in 2025.

 

“I just read with deep concern about the inhumane treatment meted out to a young lady in Anambra State. As an Anambrian myself, I feel not only ashamed but also deeply heartbroken that such cruelty could happen in 2025, in a society that ought to have advanced beyond such barbarous acts,” Obi declared.

 

 

He described the assault as an act of “primitive wickedness and savagery,” stressing that no society should ever tolerate the abuse, humiliation, and dehumanization of its citizens, particularly women and the vulnerable.

 

“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,” he lamented.

 

Calling for swift action, Obi urged security authorities to ensure that those responsible are not only apprehended and prosecuted but also made an example to deter future abuses.

 

“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. To do anything less is to endanger the very fabric of civilisation,” he warned.

 

 

The former governor further called for the institution of stronger safeguards, policies, and communal values that would protect the weak and restrain the powerful.

 

“Our humanity must always come first. Without it, we are nothing but a people adrift in cruelty,” he declared.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Anambra State government confirmed that the operatives involved in the assault had been arrested and suspended. However, the police disclosed that investigations had been slowed down because the victim was “not forthcoming” with information.

 

The incident has sparked anger across the country, with rights groups, NYSC officials, and ordinary Nigerians demanding justice and better protection for corps members serving in volatile areas.