Amnesty International has condemned the reported assault of female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members by armed men suspected to be operatives of Operation Udo Ga-Achi, also known as the Agunechemba Vigilante Group, on July 23, 2025, in Anambra State.
The human rights body described the incident as outrageous, noting that the corps members were subjected to severe beatings, degrading treatment, and threats of sexual assault. It urged that the vigilante group be held transparently accountable for the violations.
Amnesty International said it has documented a pattern of abuses by vigilante groups across Nigeria, many of which operate with impunity and without regard for human rights or due process. Some of these groups have been linked to extrajudicial killings, torture, inhuman treatment, unlawful detention, disappearances, and political intimidation.
The organization called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the Anambra incident, insisting that the state government must review the operations of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group and issue clear directives to prevent it from acting outside the law.
