Edo brothels evict prostitutes over coronavirus

Some commercial sex workers in Edo state were Friday stranded after brothel owners in Benin City, the state capital, evicted them as part of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic.

The affected prostitutes were reportedly evicted from Adesuwa and Osasco brothels on Ugbague Street, off Mission Road, Benin City.

Matters were reportedly made worse for the commercial sex workers when some of their home states closed their borders to returning persons and vehicles.

The prostitutes, who were peeved by the development, declined to pesk with journalists.

The state government’s task force on anti-covid-19 had directed all businesses to close shop with the exemption of those trading on essential commodities.

Besides, the government guidelines on covid-19 stipulate social distancing and also barred gathering of more than 20 persons.

Blueprint gathered that the brothel proprietors might have also made the decision to evict the prostitutes because some of them were to longer paying their rents due to low patronage.

A brothel proprietor, who simply identified himself as Osagie, said: “There is no need to remain here for business. All this ashawo (prostitutes) are not paying their rents.

“So, I have asked them (prostitutes) to go home and meet their children and families at their various states. They should go home because any man who has a virus and infected them, the prostitutes can easily share it among everybody here.

“Like me, I have children and I can’t ask my children not to embrace me; and you know that these prostitutes are occupying my buildings and I am the one managing my facilities

So, I am afraid. That is why I asked them to home until the coronavirus epidemic is over. It’s better to die of hunger instead of disease.”