ABUJA: Hoodlums covertly stage robbery attacks under the bridges in the city, snatching cars & valuables from residents.

Abuja sex districts • Streets, neighbourhoods where prostitutes hold sway

Izon Wari house located in Central District 0f Abuja
By FRED ITUA

Prior to the exit of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, his era in office was likened to Nuhu Ribadu’s EFCC. Under his watch, the Abuja master-plan was restored. Hoodlums, street urchins and a handful of other people involved in businesses considered illegal in the FCT were chased out. Illegal structures were demolished in their thousands and residents had a ‘breath of fresh air.’


Since his exit, the city is gradually relapsing, with hoodlums covertly staging robbery attacks under the bridges in the city and snatching cars with other valuables from residents. Street urchins, beggars and artisans, among others, ply their trade in the city centres unhindered. These daredevils even ply their trades in front of FCT secretariat under the watchful eyes of the minister. While residents have chosen to silently groan under this new wave of illegality threatening the peace of the city, another class of nuisance has crawled in. Prostitutes, popularly referred to in Abuja as ‘Daughters of Eve’ by residents, have taken over the city.

Places once tagged ‘no-go areas’ have been taken over by these women of easy virtues. The biggest victims of the nuisances constituted by these prostitutes are residents of 321 Road, 3rd Avenue in Gwarimpa Housing Estate. According to documents obtained by Saturday Sun, several letters of appeal have been written by Barrister Peter Opaluwa Okwoli, on behalf of the residents, addressed to the FCT minister and authorities of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) to put an end to the disturbances. One of the letter, dated August 18, 2010 and addressed to the minister reads:

“The activities of the operators of G-Spot has constituted huge nuisance to the entire neighbourhood. There is no gainsaying the fact that conducts of the operators are leading to acts capable of breaching the peace of the community without your prompt intervention. “For instance, the operators of the brothel extend their operations to 3-4am of the following day, every day of the week, blaring musical equipment to the highest volume, thereby, constituting extreme nuisance and noise pollution. Incessant fighting among prostitutes and criminals.”

On February 23, 2011, a similar petition was written to the director of AEPB, Mr. Isah Shuaibu. According to the information obtained by Saturday Sun, no decisive action was taken by AEPB on the matter. On April 13, 2012, the issue was raised again by the residents, through a similar letter addressed to the director of AEPB. Expressing their anger and frustration over the refusal by this agency to respond, the residents have, therefore, threatened to institute a legal action against them. In the last petition, residents have alleged negligence by the board, which they claim, refused to act on previous letters written to it. Part of the letter reads:

“We have been briefed that when the operators of this night club commenced their nefarious activities under the guise of an eatery/restaurant sometimes in 2007, our clients alerted you and other relevant authorities, via letters dated 19/10/2007 and 24/10/ 2007 that the eatery was just a smokescreen for the operation of an illegal night club cum brothel.” While this nuisance goes on unabated, these prostitutes have taken their trade to other highbrow areas in the city. The infamous Gimbya Street in Area 11 and the popular Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse are now likened to the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Illegal sexual activities ranging from sex on the street to utter sexual harassment happen in these places, our investigations revealed.

When this reporter visited these areas at night, it was observed that eatery, relaxation centres, amusement parks, clubs/disco houses and cinemas, among others, are becoming safe havens for commercial sex workers. Families and decent residents of the city now find it hard to patronise these places. Some fun lovers, who spoke to Saturday Sun said they have resorted to going to their houses after work, since prostitutes now harass them whenever they go to joints to cool off. Mr. Eric Osuji, an estate surveyor, jokingly said God has deserted Abuja because of the high level of sexual promiscuity in the city.

He said rather than go out after a hard day’s work, he prefers to chill at home with his friends in order to avoid being harassed by these prostitutes. “In those days when El-rufai was in power, the city was a much saner place,” Eric said, alleging: “Those in power have given up on chasing out these prostitutes from the city that they now harass residents. I cannot go out with my friends to grab a bottle of drink without a prostitute sitting at the next table making useless advances at me. It has even become worrisome because those empowered to curb this nuisance have been implicated in this whole mess.”

Eric made a reference to what most residents of the city have been saying about officials of AEPB allegedly being involved in illicit sexual activities with these prostitutes, after which they are left to ply their trades unhindered. Painting the picture, he said: “We have had cases where these officials swooped on prostitutes in Area 11. At first, we were glad, only for the girls to return to their posts an hour later. Out of curiosity, we asked some of them and they blatantly told us that when the officials asked for money and they couldn’t give them, they were asked to compensate them with sex.”

Some residents of Gimbya Street, who bear the harshest brunt have also been expressing their frustrations over what they go through every day. In Port Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbya Street (where the highest illicit sex goes on unabated), the residents alleged that some prostitutes are involved in sexual intercourse with their male clients behind flowers on the street. They further alleged that the matter has been brought to the attention of the officials of AEPB who appear uninterested in curbing this nuisance. Other red light districts in Abuja, where these activities go on unabated, include Garki 2 District, Mataima, Asokoro, Utako, big hotels, among others.

Saturday Sun investigations have also revealed that officials of AEPB saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that prostitutes are kept off the street, operate mostly during the day. With their painted buses, they stay in strategic areas, like markets, traffic-prone areas, near government offices, etc. At night, when these nefarious activities are being perpetrated by women of easy virtues, these officials go to bed, leaving the helpless residents to groan under the nuisances constituted by them. Some female residents have also complained of manhandling and harassment by officials of AEPB while police officers have also been fingered in the scandal.

Beginning from 7pm, young ladies who go about their normal duties are sometimes arrested by overzealous police officers and officials of AEPB. Labeled prostitutes, they are detained in police stations until relatives come around to bail them. An advert executive in one of the media houses in Abuja, who pleaded to be called Sarah because of the sensitivity of the issue, recounts the gory experience she had with her female friend. Her words: “My colleague and I were standing one day along Ahmadu Bello Way in Wuse 2 to board a taxi to Mataima. It was just few minutes after 8pm.

We had barely stood for five minutes when a Hilux van loaded with angry looking policemen alighted in front of us. To our surprise, they started yelling at us and calling us cheap prostitutes. “We were ordered to get into the van and follow them to the station. They alleged that we were part of the girls sexually harassing residents and causing commotion in the city. It took the intervention of other people standing by, who pleaded our case, before we were left off their hook. These days, I am too scared to stand alone because of harassment and a lot of ladies go through the same ordeal. Sadly, no one is listening to our cries.”

Reacting on behalf of AEPB, the public relations officer, Mr. Joseph Ukairo, said the issue raised by Gwarimpa residents doesn’t fall under their purview. He said: “It is an issue of conversion of use, which falls under the FHA. My boss has visited the FHA management twice on this matter.” On other issues raised, Saturday Sun couldn’t obtain reactions from AEPB as their spokesman declined to comment further.

 — w