Tension In Anambra: Corps Member Brutalized, Ohanaeze Youths Tell Soludo To Axe Agunechemba Operatives

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to dismantle the Anambra State security outfit, popularly known as Agunechemba.

This demand follows nationwide outrage after operatives of the outfit, also codenamed Udo Ga-Achi, were caught on camera assaulting a female corps member, identified as Ms. Jennifer Elobor.

In a statement on Wednesday, the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, insisted that only the immediate disbandment of the security group would calm public anger.

According to Okwu, the controversial conduct of Agunechemba operatives has been a long-standing issue. “Before now, there have been several reports of rights violations and even trial by ordeal linked to this outfit,” he noted.

He added that the group has a history of brutalizing innocent residents and engaging in acts of jungle justice, with repeated warnings from rights organisations like Intersociety going unheeded.

“The case of Ms. Jennifer Elobor is just one of many atrocities, but it has now brought to light what has been happening in Anambra State,” Okwu stressed.

He further urged Governor Soludo to scrap the group and initiate a new recruitment process, which must include proper training and mandatory drug testing for prospective members to prevent future abuses.

Additionally, Okwu demanded that those involved in the assault face open trial under the Nigeria Police, emphasizing that “there should be no sacred cows.” He also called on the Anambra State Government to compensate the victim adequately.