UGBAGUE STREET: Inside Benin’s oldest prostitutes’ den

THEY are called queens of the night. Many refer to them as women of easy virtue. In Benin City, capital of Edo State, these young women, known as asewo, are more domiciled at the popular Ugbague Street in the ancient city.

Obehi's blog investigation reveals that most of the girls trading their bodies at this joint are cheap prostitutes willing to accept any amount from potential customers. They are usually lowly priced by male customers. For N1, 000 or even less, the prostitutes are willing to strip and engage in a round of sex. The sex workers are not the only occupants on Ugbague Street though. There are a few residential houses on the street just as there are traders that sell different legitimate commodities. However, when one mentions Ugbague in Benin and its environs, it connotes a place where hundreds of ladies sell their bodies for mon

Ist and seemingly most patronised brothel stood some of the harlots. These were bony and of short and average heights. There were also others that were quite fleshy. They were sex workers who meant business – strutting their stuff and soliciting for patronage from men.

Some of the ladies seen around there were neatly dressed in expensive clothes and hardly spoke to any men, especially the ones they rated not capable to pay their bills. Their colleagues call them ‘big mamas’ and ‘sakara ladies.’ Ugbague Street is a haven of sinful sex. The prostitutes – both ugly and beautiful – compete for men’s attention. Some of the girls were seen adopting aggressive marketing strategies in desperation, totally throwing decorum to the wind.

While the reporter was there, some of the ladies dished out suggestive stuff, as the music blasted from the speakers. Some of them simply sat at tables and made tempting passes at men. The women were dressed in provocative attire. Some of them wore bum shorts and revealing tops, while others put on micro-mini skirts that barely covered their underpants. Their breasts, most of them sagged, spilled from the bra. And they threw their breasts in the faces of the men.

In their desperation, they approached any man in sight, promising him a good time for his money. Some spoke fluent English while the majority depended on Pidgin English to convince prospective buyers to purchase their ‘market’. Heavy smoking and drinking went on freely at the bar.

Obehi's blog was reliably informed by one of the barmen that business comes into full swing from 10pm. Most of the practitioners peg their asking price at between N2, 500 and N5, 000 for an all night dalliance. There is also the time factor in the profession. As the night winds down, the price crashes. Between 12.30am and 1.30am, the prostitutes deprived of customers would accept any amount from men. One of the ladies, who gave her name as Sonia, told this reporter that it was an ugly condition that led her into the business. Asked why she was bartering her beauty and womanhood for cash, she quipped: “No condition is permanent. If you are ready for enjoyment, let’s go inside. I don’t have time for this your useless questions,” she hissed and immediately walked away aggressively. Some of them, as gathered, do legitimate work during the day but at night they transform to sex providers to augment their pockets.

When this reporter and his friend feigned interest, one of the prostitutes, who quickly gave her name as Maureen, swore to give her guests value for their money. She voluntarily gave out her phone number and assured them that a trial would have them coming back for more.

Prostitutes and those patronising them might not be aware that prostitution is a crime. Sections 223, 224 and 225 of the Criminal Code prohibit the existence of brothels and the practice of prostitution. Penalties for setting up brothels range from six months to two years jail terms. But it is worrisome that these laws are not enforced. A top ranking policeman, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said the police do raid and arrest prostitutes, always.

He explained: “What people often overlook is that the Criminal Code itself does not help matters. It does not clearly define who a prostitute is. Really, there is no law against prostitution. What the law opposes is soliciting for men, not prostitution. Even the issue of brothels, how do you define what constitutes a brothel? These are difficult terms to prove. But we raid them notwithstanding, not because of prostitutes but because of other related vices like crime.”