Nigeria was once again confronted with disturbing images this week after a video surfaced showing a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member being physically assaulted by a man identified as a community leader in Anambra State.
In the video, the young woman is seen slapped, pushed and insulted, reportedly for “refusing to run an unofficial errand” that lay outside her primary assignment.
Witnesses say the corps member refused, explaining that her role is to serve in accordance with the NYSC programme, not as a personal domestic aide.
Rather than report her to the NYSC authorities, the man allegedly took matters into his own hands and turned violent.
National Outrage and Official Responses
The video has triggered nationwide condemnation, with many describing the assault as a clear case of gender-based violence and abuse of power.
The Anambra State Government issued an official statement on Monday evening, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and promising that the perpetrator will be brought to justice, regardless of his status or position in the community.
“The Government of Anambra State will not tolerate any act that demeans the dignity of corps members who offer selfless service to our state,” the statement read.
In addition, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and several women’s rights groups have called on the police to arrest and prosecute the attacker without delay.
A Wider Problem That Can No Longer Be Ignored
Beyond the individual case, the incident has renewed debate over the safety of corps members, particularly women, in host communities.
Over the past three years, multiple cases of assault and harassment of NYSC members have gone unpunished, leading critics to argue that the programme is gradually losing its protective function.
The NYSC Directorate has confirmed that the victim is receiving medical and psychological support and has lodged an official complaint.
The Anambra State Police Command says an investigation is underway and the suspect has been invited for questioning.
A Call for Change
It is not enough to condemn. The government must prove that assaulting a corps member male or female, carries real consequences.
This will require swift prosecution, public accountability and formal policy changes, including a mechanism that allows corps members to immediately report abuse and receive quick protection.
Nigeria simply cannot continue to demand national service from its young people, while failing to protect them from humiliation and violence.
To ignore this case now is to tell every young woman in Nigeria that her clothes are nothing more than a fabric, and her dignity, optional.
