21/08/2025
When Udo-ga-chi Turns Violent: A Constitutional Breach and the Demand for Justice in Anambra
The emergence of a disturbing video depicting the brutalization of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor, in Anambra State, is more than a viral clip—it is an evidentiary record of a profound constitutional breach. This incident represents a catastrophic failure by state actors to uphold their primary mandate: the protection of the fundamental rights of every Nigerian citizen. It further validates the numerous accusations already leveled against the state-sanctioned security outfit, Udo-ga-chi.
The actions perpetrated against Miss Elohor, and indeed against other citizens of Anambra State, are not merely immoral or shameful; they constitute a direct and egregious violation of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended). The perpetrators, allegedly members of Udo-ga-chi, acted in contravention of the very social contract they were sworn to enforce.
A Legal Breach of Constitutional Rights
A legal examination of the incident reveals a blatant disregard for multiple inviolable rights enshrined in Chapter IV of the Constitution:
Section 34(1)(a): Right to Dignity of the Human Person – Explicitly prohibits torture or degrading treatment. The stripping and humiliation of Miss Edema is a textbook case of degrading treatment.
Section 35(1): Right to Personal Liberty – Guarantees liberty, which was unlawfully taken through her illegal detention without due process.
Section 37: Right to Privacy – Her Corpers’ Lodge, a legally recognized residence, was invaded without lawful justification.
Section 14(2)(b): Security and Welfare of the People – Declares that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary duty of government. Yet in this case, the state itself became the very source of insecurity.
Governor Soludo’s reported dismissal of the culprits may be an administrative gesture, but it is woefully inadequate as a judicial response. Dismissal is an employment sanction, not a legal penalty. Justice demands more.
The Call for Justice
The described acts meet the threshold of multiple offences under Nigerian law, including assault occasioning harm, unlawful confinement, and sexual harassment (under a broad interpretation of the Violence Against Persons [Prohibition] Act, 2015). The culprits must be charged, arraigned, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Anything less might be seen as state-sanctioned impunity.
Furthermore, the Anambra State Government bears vicarious liability. By establishing and deploying Udo-ga-chi, the state assumed a duty of care to its citizens. Its agents’ actions breached this duty, requiring not only accountability but also redress for the victim, including:
Substantial Monetary Compensation – For trauma and unlawful detention (per Section 35(6) of the Constitution).
Comprehensive Rehabilitation – Medical and psychological care for recovery.
A Formal Public Apology – As acknowledgment of state failure.
Beyond Condemnation
The ordeal of Miss Elohor is not an isolated case. There are recurring allegations of harassment, intimidation, illegal detention, and brutality by Udo-ga-chi. This paints a disturbing picture of systemic abuse under the guise of community security.
While the Anambra State Government has condemned the attack, condemnation alone is insufficient. Words without justice are empty.
The Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Governor of Anambra State, the Commissioner of Police, and indeed, the Nigerian people must rise against this injustice. We are not living in an unlawful nation, nor should vigilante groups usurp the role of legitimate security institutions in a democracy.
The Inspector-General of Police must immediately set up a special investigative team to probe this incident and mandate the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State to step in as the constitutionally recognized custodian of law and order. Any Udo-ga-chi operative found to have engaged in illegal detention or brutality must be arrested and prosecuted. If any detainees are being held unlawfully, they should be released immediately.
A Call to Leadership and Civic Action
The Anambra State Government must urgently sanitize its security architecture. This should not be reduced to a campaign slogan or political gimmick—it is about justice, human dignity, and the Constitution itself.
To Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo: the greatness of a leader is measured not by the comfort of the powerful, but by the protection of the vulnerable. This is the ultimate test of your leadership.
The press, civil society, and human rights organizations—both local and international—must also take a stand. Silence in the face of injustice is complicity. This case is not only about one NYSC member; it is about the safety, dignity, and constitutional rights of every Nigerian.
As an indigene of Anambra, I state unequivocally that the security architecture of my state has never been this brutal, this unrestrained, and this inhumane. The brutalization of Miss Jennifer Edema Elohor must mark a turning point.
Conclusion
The true test of governance in a democracy is not how power protects itself, but how it protects its most vulnerable citizens. The Anambra State Government and the Nigerian judiciary must now prove that the rule of law is not a slogan, but a reality.
