Commercial Workers In Anambara Threatens To Go On Strike

No fewer than 2,000 commercial sex workers in
Awka, the Anambra State capital, have concluded
arrangements to go on strike on Wednesday,
following the demolition of their “settlement” beside
the cattle market at Amansea Awka North Local
Government area of the state.
The State Urban Development Board stormed the
place at about 3.12pm on Monday with over 50
armed police personnel, alleging that the brothels
were being used a hideouts by kidnappers and
other criminals.
The commercial sex workers quickly mobilised and
set the remaining structures at the cattle market
ablaze shortly after the demolition, accusing the
ASUDEP officials of trying to “give a dog a bad
name in order to hang it”.
The leader of the sex workers, who gave her name
as Rachael, during an interview, described the
action of the government officials as wicked and
inhuman for destroying their “business centre
without notice”.
She added, “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 General Manager, ASUDB, Mr. Enemmuo
Chinedu, who led the operation, said the exercise
was part of Governor Willie Obiano’s resolve to rid
the state of criminals.
Chinedu added that the structures demolished
were illegal buildings, where prostitutes,
kidnappers and armed robbers resided.
He said such demolition would be extended to
Nnewi, Onitsha and other urban centres in the
state, where brothels and illegal structures had
sprung up “until all prostitutes in the state
relocate”.
The ASUDEB boss explained that three weeks
notice was given to the occupants to vacate the
area.
He stated, “A lot of prostitutes live around
Amansea cattle market, spoiling our children and
constituting a nuisance in the area and you know
that anywhere there is a brothel, criminals and
kidnappers hover around there.
“In my capacity as the ASUDEB GM, I will ensure
that this doesn’t exist anymore in the state and
our activities are in line with our amiable
governor’s policy on zero tolerance for criminals
and kidnappers in the state.”
[NigerianMonitor]