Police battle prostitutes in Abuja
By Jide Babalola
Published: Sunday, 22 Feb 2009
efforts by the police to rid the federal capital, Abuja, of prostitutes may after all not come to fruition as the latter have vowed to continue in the ancient business.

The police, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt, began surprise raids and prosecution of suspected prostitutes last Sunday in a bid to contain the rising incidence of prostitution in the city.

However, barely few days after the crackdown started, many prostitutes, including those caught and taken to court, had resurfaced and resumed the business in full swing.

”They are an adamant lot, but if they refuse to listen and insist on practising prostitution in this city, we will continue to raid their usual spots and arrest them.

“We will continue taking them to court for prosecution,” the Area Commander of Metro Police Station in Maitama, Mr. Sunday Odukoya, told Sunday Punch.

Odukoya, a Chief Superintendent of Police who is heading the operation, asserted that the police were determined to rid the city of crime and the ubiquitous prostitutes.

At Maitama Police Station, where 53 suspects were paraded on Monday, many of them said their arrest by policemen was an unfair act that could not bring the business to an end.

”We do not want to be a burden on anybody, that is why some of us are doing this business. If there is no customer, and if not for ‘condition‘, nobody will be doing this. Nobody came to look at Zuma rock; we are all struggling to make it in this Abuja,” a young girl who gave her name as Agnes told SUNDAY PUNCH.

In an interview with our correspondent, Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Moshood Jimoh, admitted that the existing legal provisions placed a strong limitation on how far the police could go towards stopping prostitution.

”Police raids began along major roads such as Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Herbert Macaulay Way and in known prostitute hangouts around Wuse area of Abuja around midnight last Sunday.

“Fifty-three ladies with indecent dressing and those suspected of wandering or soliciting for men were picked up and taken to the Maitama Police Station.

”The only basis we can presently charge them is for breach of Section 183 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, by constituting public nuisance but we believe that such raids will serve as a deterrence to many. The fines they are made to pay in court tend to be so light that many of them go back into the trade immediately they are freed,” he stated.

At an Abuja Magistrate court where the suspects were taken on Monday, one Sandra Ochor was discharged for being under the statutory age of 18.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Josephine Obianor, set her free because she pledged to discontinue with prostitution.

Nine others who pleaded guilty were fined N1,000 each.

They are Nancy John, Joy Ojo, Patience Sunday, Gift Benson, Jennifer Obiagwu, Blessing John, Stella James, Joy Samuel and Lilian Akabueze.

Forty-two others who pleaded not guilty were granted bail in the sum of N10,000 and ordered to bring one surety each.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned to Thursday.

In spite of police crackdown, findings indicate that hordes of young, scantily dressed ladies were openly seeking men along major roads in Abuja.

”Unemployment, poverty and the looting of national resources along with inadequate moral enlightenment by parents account for the widespread prostitution in Abuja. Our so-called big men who lavish so much for one night of perversion, are also to blame,” Mr. Moses Adedeji of the Childrens‘ Rights Network told Sunday Punch

haha.

why dont they go and round up the ones in the Hilton . . .LOL!!

Tee hee hee. . .hope its battling they doing oo. . .and not partaking in it. . . .

.

Legalize and control it.

tpia:

short of razing down the neighborhood, is there anywhere in the world where red light districts have been successfully rehabilitated.

I seriously doubt it. Where there's demand there'll always be supply.

but without supply there wont be any [i]need [/i]for demand, would there?

There is nothing they can to stop prostitutes!!

These People will always be there!!

Nigerian police "BATTLING" prostitutes? roflmao!!! Abeg make we hear word!!

Dateline February 20   Time : 23.00 hours Zulu time.   At the Abuja Front of the LovePeddler War.

During a temporary lull in the fierce fighting, the press corps were conducted round the front-lines by Lt. Dongo Abdullahi of the Abuja Presidential Guards 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, so we can now confirm that there is indeed no cause for alarm.  Numerous prisoners of war have been taken by the gallant federal forces, and their weapons of skimpy clothing, cosmetics and bulk quantities of stockpiled flavored condoms have been seized and put on display to illustrate the ingenuity and resilience of the enemy.

After repulsing a devious flanking maneuver by the prostitutes which, if successful, would have trapped federal troops in a classic pincer movement, air support was quickly called in to punch holes through the massing enemy contingents, scattering them in disarray before the might of the Nigerian Airforce, whose ground-attack jets and helicopter gunships fired withering salvos of rockets and missiles into the very loins of the cowardly rebel prostitute vandals.

Not to be left out of the action, President Musa Yar Adua released a communique from his sick bed in Saudi Arabia.  His words :  "Pellow Kwantiri Man, today the might of the Nigerian military isi beingi testedi once again by the forces of evil, but no bra or panties shall be left unturned in our concerted efforts to root out the enemy from their strongholds, and push zem back towards Lagos where zey belong"
 
As fighting resumed to the sound of heavy artillery and the plaintive moans of unrepentant prostitutes as they were being interrogated by Military Intelligence officers, your intrepid reporter was forced to withdraw and slip out of the hot zone, so as to preempt any accidental discharge or unplanned pregnancy. 

Stay tuned for more battle-front news as it unfolds.   Over and out.

"The only basis we can presently charge them is for breach of Section 183 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria"


I thought Abuja is immuned from laws of Northern Nigeria or laws from any part of Nigeria. It looks like the administrators in Abuja are informing all of us Nigerians that Abuja is a northern city and not a neutral city as we all thought. I hope the next thing that will happen in Abuja will not be religious riot.

As fighting resumed to the sound of heavy artillery and the anguished cries of the unrepentant prostitutes as they were being interrogated by Military Intelligence officers, your intrepid reporter was forced to withdraw and slip out of the area so as to preempt any accidental discharge or unplanned pregnancy.

Stay tuned for more battle-front news as it unfolds. Over and out.

Yes o. I tell you soldiers and policemen in the barracks are lobbying seriously for this operation because of the war booty available. Bet me, at the end of this battle, Nigeria will have boom of war babies . Awuuff abunnan for hungry lions .

KnowAll:

"The only basis we can presently charge them is for breach of Section 183 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria"


I thought Abuja is immuned from laws of Northern Nigeria or laws from any part of Nigeria. It looks like the administrators in Abuja are informing all of us Nigerians that Abuja is a northern city and not a neutral city as we all thought. I hope the next thing that will happen in Abuja will not be religious riot.

It means that only the Northern Nigeria was sensible enough to enact a law that will protect the value of womanhood.

Chei, Ashanas don take over capital!

Gud aplause to the police for this tremendous aproach towards eradication of prostition in this our great nation. Com to think of it ,prostitution is not the only job that gives money there thousand and one oportunities out there that awaits them.that's if they 'll let go of lazitude and pride

This is very lauphable, prostitution to stop in Abuja ?, police is indirectly looking for the toubles of politicians who sums up as the major customers of this daughters of Eve,

Let's see how far they will go.

It means that only the Northern Nigeria was sensible enough to enact a law that will protect the value of womanhood.

   

Sensible my foot.