Anambra Prostitutes Threaten to Expose Government Officials

Over 2,000 prostitutes in Awka, Anambra will on Wednesday start a 4-day strike following the demolition of their brothel by the state government.

The State Urban Development Board had demolished their “settlement” beside the cattle market at Amansea, armed with over 50 armed police personnel, alleging that the brothels were being used a hideouts by kidnappers and other criminals.The leader of the sex workers, who gave her name as Rachael, described the action of the government officials as wicked and inhuman for destroying their “business centre without notice”.

“We are decent people. We do our business and go our way. We don’t habour criminals. After all, most of the people that visit us are government officials. They want me to expose them?

“They destroyed our centre and left behind other huts, kiosks and canteens that belong to the Hausa cattle traders. Is that justice? Don’t those ones habour kidnappers and criminals?”

She threatened that the sex workers, numbering over 2,000, would embark on a four-day strike, starting from Wednesday, to register their grievances against the government’s action.

“We want to tell them that they are the people patronising us,” Rachael said.

The State Urban devt board however says the demolition was in line with Gov Willie Obiano's policy and that the prostitutes had been given weeks of notice but had failed to evacuate the area.

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