August 2nd, 2012 – 52 Commercial Sex Workers Arrested In Lagos, Nigeria
On August 1st, 2012, over 52 suspected prostitutes were arrested on Toyin Street in Ikeja, Lagos State Nigeria.
A report published on The News Magazine prompted Lagos State Task Force on Environmental & Special offences Enforcement unit to make the arrest.
The strategic arrest which was carried out around 12am led to the arrest of commercial sex hawkers who ages range between 18 and 34 years.
The prostitutes were packed into a Black Maria and transported to the Task force office.
According to Task force Chairman, Mr Bayo Sulaiman who confirmed the arrest , there had been complaints and public outcry over the invasion of commercial sex hawkers in Isaac John and Toyin Street junction where there is a popular hotel whose owner also runs a night club.
“Isaac John is where we have the Government House and it is a criminal offence to engage in harlotry by the sides of the road. The people in the area have been crying over the upsurge of prostitutes in the area and the traffic gridlock by the night club,” he said. Sulaiman stated that the hotel and its night club had been causing untold traffic menace around Toyin Junction, saying that the owner of the joints had been served notice to abate the nuisance going on in the area.
“We have told the owner to desist from obstructing traffic in the area. We will not tolerate this anymore,” he said.
Sulaiman warned that the task force would extend the raid on commercial sex hawkers to Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island where their activities had been on the increase, while urging those still in the trade to stop it as the wrath of the law would soon catch up with them.
“The state government will no longer condone this act of prostitution. These people are bad example to the youths. We have taken their photographs and finger print individually and when we apprehend them the second time, the punishment will be severe.
“We acted based on TheNEWS magazine report that Wednesday was going to be ladies’ night. We had to wait for that time and we struck and arrested them,” he stated.
“We have arraigned several of them in court in the past and we had gotten conviction on some of them. The issue of collecting money is out of it. The so-called ‘big boys’ in the club don’t settle us,” he said.
This will teach them a big lesson.
Dats gud
It is a bad one but, if they leave the street, what does the govt have in place for them as a preventive measure?
Its really bad
Where una keep them? I want come do.
Dnt feel gud. D govt shuld gv dem anoda alternative if dey reali wana stop prostitutn
WRE IS FAROUK AND SUBSIDY THIEVES ,ENJOYING .JUSTICE SHOULD BE FOR ALL NOT FOR THE POOR ONLY.
i believe that this task force workers are causing more problems to themselves because they have themselves to be blamed end of the day in the bed of those prostitute when they don’t have home talk of wives. their dead traps have been organised just to cut the whole of their manhoods off. this set of persons have their minds at the back because of unemployement while the tf men have their own at the from because they earn little every day compare to criminal Sulaman that sent them. last time they were beaten up by soddiers this time around it will be prostitutes selling body parts. useless country and hopeless states with wrong leaders that can not create job before eradicating prostitutionalism.
Gud job but i think the govt is d cause they should provid decent job 4 we the youth beside they should be plaining how to stop boko halam not prostitute
God don catch them!
What ve u people done abt all dis terrorists terrorizin our country, nonsense leaders
i don’t think dat, there is anything concerning to the government about this issue…… all of us know that it is because of unemployment …..we people know that our sons leader do go there everyday to enjoy so no comment…….
I agree with you their sons carry girls and do party inside plane.
where they arrested on moral ground? could this have been left to their conscience and their creator? I dont think they are less privilaged about earning a decent living. Its about self dignity. My appeal goes to the church to go the extra mile for their souls’ sake
nawa o!wat a pity….
Do think that they are happy doing that job? When the leaders are busy stealing what belongs to them. Arresting them and collecting money from them before their release, dosen, t make any sence. When you did not provide for their needs.
Every one knows it is a crime,bt d most important thing is it’s risk to the life of prostitutes nd their patronizers(hiv/aids)
substitute their current job with something good and just watch that prostitution will be on the low range view
Why will a mother that sells cook food in a junction and police man be husband an wife and at the end give birth to 8 children! My brothers and sist let nbe frank here are those children not going to end up fortrated tell me how they are going to traN them! What me good job is my comment they just have to aproved prostitution has a business over here in 9ja since they don’t ve sence