government of Anambra
State dislodged hundreds of prostitutes and
demolished their shanties at Amansea
Awka amidst commendations only a few
months ago?
Well, it seems the girls are gradually
filtering back in.
Following a tip off by someone who should
know, this reporter decided to embark on a
fact-finding mission, to ascertain the
Veracity or otherwise of the claim...
Naturally, the first port of call was Gariki
Amansea – a notorious red light district –
which was the worst hit by the State
Governments onslaught. The cattle traders
and commercial motorcyclists were going
about their normal business. The destroyed
shanties have not reappeared and their
normal business. The destroyed shanties
have not reappeared, and there’s hardly
anything to suggest that prostitution goes
on anywhere around there. A respondent,
who would not give his name, claimed that
the ‘hustlers’ were still operating at the
neighboring Ugwuoba in Enugu State where
they had relocated and that their loyal
customers either go there to patronize them
or arrange for meeting at some other
places.
At a brothel that used to be known as
‘Dayspring’ around Amawbia junction, it
was observed that the house has been
repainted and a thriving dry cleaning
business going on there.
However, at happiness guest house (still
around Amawbia junction) the story was
different. Customers were drinking at the
ground floor which serves as the bar while
women of various age and sizes sat around
mainly fiddling with their phones and
ogling the men. There were no skimpy
dresses while caution was the watchword.
From time to time girls go one corner or
another to bargain with some customers
and if they strike a deal, they race upstairs
where the main business is conducted.
This reporter overheard some of them
chatting about how bad business has been
and how they would willingly charge less
than their normal fees. There’s no doubt
that the obscurity of their location is their
trump card.
At morning star guest house, which used to
be a bee hive of activities, the place was all
but desolate. A handful of girls (and
grannies too!) were seen lurking around.
One could practically feel the caution with
which they operate. It was gathered that
the proprietor who used to ‘settle’ security
agents on behalf of the girls died months
back and since then they have been under
constant harassment by security operatives,
thus forcing some of the girls to relocate.
Efforts to reach the Anambra State
Commissioner for Women Affairs and
Social Development for comments on the
issue proved abortive.
