The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has joined other Nigerians in condemning the brutal attack on a female corps member serving in Anambra State.
A trending video, which took over the internet on Tuesday, showed members of Anambra State’s Udo Ga-Achi Security operatives assaulting a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, identified as Ms. Jennifer Elobor.
According to NYSC, Jennifer had come visiting a corpers lodge when the operatives stormed the area for an operation and became a victim of what is now attracting national outrage.
In a statement signed by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President and Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, General Secretary, the NBA seriously condemned the incident, demanding justice for the victim.
The NBA described the incident as “nothing short of degrading, inhumane, and a direct violation of her dignity and fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It declared that “nobody, whether suspected of an offence or entirely innocent, deserves to be subjected to such barbaric treatment.
“The NBA notes that while security agencies have the mandate to apprehend criminals and maintain law and order, such powers must never be exercised in a manner that tramples upon the rights of innocent citizens.
“Even where an arrest is to be effected, the law provides clear procedures to ensure that the dignity of the individual is protected. The conduct displayed in the video, a young corps member beaten and stripped of her clothing, is a complete negation of those safeguards and an affront to human decency.”
Although the NBA commended the Anambra State Government for its swift action in identifying and arresting the operatives responsible, it insisted that the perpetrators “must be promptly and diligently prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, to serve as both redress for Ms. Elobor and deterrence against similar abuses in the future.”
The Association equally harped on the urgent need for comprehensive training, reorientation, and continuous capacity-building of security operatives.
“Respect for human rights, professionalism, and restraint must be embedded in their conduct at all times.
“The Anambra State Government must ensure that mechanisms are put in place to prevent the recurrence of such violations and to reassure citizens that the forces meant to protect them will not become agents of abuse.
“The NBA branches in Anambra State and the National Litigation Committee are hereby directed to closely monitor this incident to ensure justice is served. We reaffirm our commitment to defending the rule of law, safeguarding human dignity, and ensuring justice for Ms. Elobor,” it further stated.