Sex workers on rampage in Anambra over demolition of brothels

NO fewer than 200  commercial sex workers residing near the cattle market at the border community of Amansea in Anambra State, have gone on rampage, destroying shanties in their vicinity, after officials of Anambra State Urban Development Board, ASUDEB, demolished their residences.
It was gathered that ASUDEB officials swooped on them at about 3p.m. with armed security operatives on the premise that the brothels were being used by suspected kidnappers and other hoodlums.
Most of the prostitutes have already relocated to the nearby Ugwuoba in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

An eyewitness said after the demolition, the prostitutes mobilised and set the remaining untouched structures in the Cattle Market ablaze, accusing ASUDEP officials of bias.
They were said to have accused the agency of bias as it destroyed only their homes without touching some huts, kiosks and canteens belonging to cattle traders. They also said government officials did not give them any notice.

ASUDEB responds
However, General Manager of ASUDEB, Mr. Nathan Enemuo, who led the operation, said the exercise was part of Governor Willie Obiano’s resolve to rid the state of all kinds of crime and criminal activities, adding that the structures demolished were illegal buildings in Amansea Garki, Awka North Local Government Area, where prostitutes, kidnappers and armed robbers have allegedly made a safe home.
He said that such demolition would be extended to other urban towns of Nnewi, Onitsha and other cities where sex workers operate in illegal structures.
He also debunked claims by the sex workers that government did not give them prior notice, saying the board gave them three weeks’ notice to vacate the area, but they failed to do so.
He said: “A lot of prostitutes live around Amansea cattle market, corrupting our children and constituting nuisance in the area and you know that anywhere there is a brothel, criminals and kidnappers hover.
“In my capacity as the ASUDEB General Manager, I will ensure that this does not exist anymore in the state and our activities are in line with our amiable governor’s policy on zero tolerance for crime.”

Cattle traders
back ASUDEB
Secretary of the cattle market, Alhaji Bello Maigari, said all illegal structures in the market were earmarked for demolition by ASUDEB 21 days ago.
He said: “Ashawo is not part of our business here. Our main business is selling and buying of cows only and the idea of the demolition is to remove all illegal structures used for prostitution.
“The ones they did not demolish are the places where our cattle dealers that come from the North stay and canteens where our wives cook for our customers.”