Sex workers in Akure, the Ondo State capital, have expressed deep sorrow and frustration following the d3ath of a colleague during a dispute with a male client over N15,000.
They have called on both the government and the brothel owners to establish safety protocols and provide health coverage to prevent such tragic incidents from recurring.
LIB reported that the incident occurred at a brothel in the Cathedral area of Akure, where the deceased was reportedly engaged by a male customer for an overnight session. read here
Eyewitnesses revealed that the client paid N15,000 but later became aggressive when his expectations were not met.
A close friend of the deceased, who works at another brothel and requested anonymity, told the state-owned publication, Hope Newspaper, that the victim was not feeling well on the night of the incident.
“She wasn’t really okay that day, but she still agreed to the customer’s request. After he (the customer) paid N15,000 for overnight s3x, he started struggling with her the next morning when he felt dissatisfied. Others intervened and pleaded with him to calm down,” the friend said.
After leaving the scene, the man reportedly returned, demanding a refund. By then, the lady was very weak, and attempts to access her phone to process a refund failed, as no one knew her password.
“We begged him to come back later, hoping she would regain full consciousness. But when he returned again, we had to call the police to handle the situation.
“If my friend had health insurance, she could have gone to the hospital immediately when she started feeling sick,” the friend lamented. “We don’t have any form of insurance, and we face health and safety risks daily.”
Another colleague also spoke to the publication, calling on the government to take steps to ensure their protection.
“I don’t like this job; it drains me physically and emotionally. We need rules that protect us and systems where we can report abusive clients before things get out of hand,” she said.
“That man clearly wanted more from her. We found only used condoms in the room. If we had proper regulations, this might not have happened.”
The sex workers are now urging both the government and brothel owners to put safety measures in place and provide health coverage to prevent further tragedies.
Speaking with another colleague, who gave her name as Patricia Uwonkolo, she said, “We don’t have any choice but to make sure we use something. We must use [protection], na,” she said.
“The only way out is to give ourselves medical support because no one else will care for us. So, we developed a plan to ensure drug use is controlled. Of course, nobody wishes to become an addict.
“Sometimes we use natural herbs. There is always stigma and trauma if we do not satisfy our customers. So, we use drugs to enhance our performance in bed, we need them to keep up.
“We’ve also collaborated with charity groups that support women in sex work. They give us medication to help with treatment and care,” she added.
When approached for a comment on the death of one of her workers and her reaction to the situation, the brothel owner declined comment, saying, “I am not in the mood to say anything, please. If you want information, kindly go to the police.”
The spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola, stated that an investigation is ongoing.
“The suspect reportedly hired fellow youths to retrieve the N15,000 from the prostitute. When the police arrived, three of his accomplices were arrested along with him, while others fled. They are all being investigated,” Olushola said.
