Prostitutes Sokoto
Sokoto witnessed the brutal stoning death of student Deborah Samuel, highlighting ongoing religious tensions in the region. Concurrently, commercial sex workers in Sokoto adopted a strict “No condom, no sex” policy as Nigerians prepared for World AIDS Day, emphasizing health risks. Codedruns offered access to verified escort ads in Sokoto, listing profiles of women and trans escorts, agencies, and travel companions, facilitating connections. A trending video claimed a worker provided room service to popular pastors, raising questions about hidden activities.
Enforcement and Rehabilitation Efforts
Authorities actively targeted the trade. In November 2020, Sokoto Hisbah arrested an 82-year-old woman over alleged involvement. By July 2021, they shut down a notorious brothel, continuing a crackdown initiated years earlier. Governor Attahiru Bafarawa had previously distributed funds to over 100 beneficiaries in efforts to discourage prostitution. Despite a state ban imposed in 2000, brothels persistently resurface in Sokoto areas. Officials warn that banditry fuels early marriage and prostitution across the north. Rehabilitation efforts exist, like initiatives using non-formal education theories to help commercial sex workers in Sokoto State. A 2016 PhD thesis specifically assessed their rehabilitation needs.
Ongoing Challenges and Trafficking
However, challenges persist. Police confirmed the murder of a sex worker in Sokoto in July 2017. Human trafficking remains a major concern, with reports of Malian girls trafficked to Edo for prostitution and Sokoto being a transit point; the NIS handed over 11 trafficking victims to NAPTIP there. Arrests continue, including a male crossdresser parading as a female prostitute and syndicates trafficking girls to places like Mauritania. Despite crackdowns and rehabilitation programs, the trade persists. Sex workers operate openly, targeting patrons early. Sokoto’s location and socio-economic factors, exacerbated by banditry and kidnapping, create an environment where prostitution remains a grim reality for many, intertwined with issues of trafficking, health risks, and violence.
*TAGS* – Sokoto Hisbah arrests, commercial sex workers policy, Sokoto trafficking transit
