Six members of the National Youth Service Corps have sued the Anambra State Government, demanding N1bn in damages over their alleged assault and unlawful detention by operatives of the state vigilante group, Agunechemba.

The corps members — Jennifer Elohor, Greatness Oyeh, Eze Ikenna, Anighoro Godspower, Feyisara Amore, and Chimenum Wonodi — filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Awka.

A viral video in August showed operatives of the vigilante group assaulting the corps members after storming their lodge. One of the victims, Elohor, was reportedly beaten and stripped naked by the gun-wielding men.

The vigilantes allegedly accused the corps members of being internet fraudsters (“yahoo boys”) and attacked them despite their attempts to identify themselves with their NYSC identity cards.

In the suit filed through their counsel, Cyrus Onu, the plaintiffs listed the Anambra State Government, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the State Attorney-General, and the vigilante group as the first, second, third, and fourth respondents respectively.

They are seeking N1bn in compensation for the mental, physical, financial, emotional, and psychological trauma they allegedly suffered during the assault.

In the suit marked FHC/298/2025, the plaintiffs are also asking the court to declare their arrest, detention, torture, and abuse as illegal, unlawful, unwarranted, unconstitutional, and an infringement of their fundamental rights.

Additionally, they are seeking an order compelling the respondents to issue a written public apology to be published in at least two national newspapers and one local newspaper in Anambra State. (Saturday PUNCH)