LAGOS BROTHELS EXPEL UNDERAGE PROSTITUTES, ISSUE CODE OF CONDUCT TO OTHERS

THINGS
are no longer the same at a Lagos brothel popularly called Odinwo (Yoruba word
for reduced service charge) since The Nation published a story on the mode of
operation of the prostitutes in the brothel on July 27. Insiders at the brothel
located a short distance from Sawmill Bus-stop at Ifako, Gbagada, confirmed
that much to our correspondent.

Before The Nation published the story headlined ‘Revealed: Lagos
slave camp where underage girls are recruited into prostitution’, the brothel
was notorious for a racket organised by a prostitution ring similar to what
obtains in Italy.

It was gathered that the July 27 story rattled not only the
operators of the brothel but other similar businesses in Gbagada, Oworonsoki
and Bariga areas of Lagos. An inside source at Odinwo said the girls started
moving out in droves as soon as they read the story.

Our report on the brothel had indicated that teenage girls were
being lured into the prostitution ring with promises of a better future. Upon
recruitment, the girls were placed under the tutelage of older and more
experienced prostitutes called aunties, for a period ranging from six months to
about two years. Within that period, the young girl is made to sleep with men
and surrender their earnings to the aunty.

However, The Nation can authoritatively report that the managers
of the brothel and several others in the Bariga and Oworonsoki areas have taken
steps to rid them of underage prostitutes. According to a source, the brothels
hurriedly ferried all the young girls into unknown places the morning the
report hit the newsstand. By the evening of that day, all the girls were said
to have been gathered somewhere and given money to transport themselves back to
their respective homes.

“On the day the report was published, the proprietors of the
brothel, fearing that the police could storm the place, took all the girls to a
hideout to pass the night. The following morning, which was a Sunday, they
gathered all the girls and gave them money to go back to their homes,” the source
said.

The source also disclosed that one of the proprietors, while
lamenting his loss, said about 28 young girls had to leave the brothel, leaving
him with only mature prostitutes. “It was a serious thing. The man was driven
to tears. He said about 28 girls had to leave his brothel, leaving him to make
do with the meager income from older prostitutes.”

Describing what led to the crisis as pure greed, the source said
it was believed that one of the underage prostitutes must have invited the
media after her aunty extended her period of service beyond the initial six
months agreed on.

He said: “The girl was supposed to spend six months to serve the
aunty. But after completing the six months, the aunty said she was not
impressed with her performance and extended the service period. The girl, the
proprietor said, later took her story to the media.”

When our correspondent visited the area shortly after the young
girls were expelled, one of the girls, while lamenting her condition, said she
was feeling sick because of what had happened. Asked what the ailment was, she
looked up, gave a sheepish smile and said: “You don’t know that if one suddenly
stops doing what one has been doing for a long time, the person may fall sick?”

She, however, said she was tired of prostitution, saying she was
ready to quit if she got a job. “Please help me to get a job. I am tired of
this job. I will appreciate anything you can get for me,” she said.

At the brothel, our correspondent observed that the activities
of the prostitutes were restricted to inside the walls. And unlike in the past,
when the prostitutes, provocatively dressed, canvassed for clients outside the
brothels, they had limited their operations to the inside.

They were also said to have been seriously warned by the proprietors
to avoid troubles and maintain peace in the brothels.

It was also observed that the prostitutes now play the dumb
game. Rather than engage their men in banter that may give away anything on the
crisis, they keep mum, preferring to maintain a ‘strictly business’
relationship.

“That has been their attitude since the story was published.
They no longer walk round or mix with strangers like they used to do. Now, they
simply remain silent without giving anything away”, the source said.

Proprietors of brothels populated by prostitutes in the Gbagada,
Oworonsoki and Bariga areas are said to have quickly swung into action to
ensure that the underage girls don’t return to the brothels. Stung by the
report, the proprietors were said to have come up with a code of conduct for
the all the prostitutes in the areas. The prostitutes are made to fill a form
specifying their true age, name and state of origin. They are also made to
swear an oath not to bring any underage girl into the brothels.

The source said: “The proprietors gave the prostitutes a form to
fill. In it, they are asked to fill their names, age and state of origin. I
think the people are very serious this time around. That story really disrupted
the operations of the cartel in this area.”

Meanwhile, a police team from the Special Investigation Bureau
(SIB) was said to have visited the brothel to ascertain the veracity of the
story. The proprietors of two brothels in the area were said to have been
invited and handed a stern warning to stop the practice.

The source, who witnessed the police invitation, said the
proprietors have vowed to ensure that underage prostitutes don’t operate in
their brothels.

“They are very worried. As I speak with you, they are doing
everything possible to make sure that the activities of the young girls don’t
affect their business,” the source added.

Source: The Nation