metro

Concerns as commercial sex workers invade Lagos malls, lure men

Published

1 year ago

October 10, 2023

Concerns as commercial sex workers invade Lagos malls, lure men

Concerns are rising as young ladies suspected to be commercial sex workers now loiter around major shopping malls and highbrow streets in Lagos to lure prospective customers.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the skimpily-dressed ladies usually position themselves in strategic locations within the malls to lure men.

Our correspondents who visited places such as Ikeja City Mall, Festival Mall and Allen Avenue observed that ladies suspected to be between the ages of 20 and 30 were lurking around the premises to woo prospective customers.

One of our correspondents who visited ICM around 10pm on Saturday was accosted by no fewer than three different young ladies in revealing and sexually enticing blouses.

Our correspondent who pretended to be interested gathered that the prices being charged by the sex workers vary from one person to another and other factors such as the duration and the location of the venue.

For instance, it was learnt that a short time romp within the area would cost N15,000, while an overnight stay at our correspondent’s choice of place would cost N30,000, excluding transportation costs.

When our correspondent asked how much it would cost for a weekend, one of the ladies replied, “N50,000 from Friday to Sunday morning. You will pay for my transport fare to your place.”

The situation is similar at the Festival Mall in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of the state.

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Fearing that the surge in the activities of the suspected call girls, pretending to be visiting the premises for shopping, residents claimed the ladies’ activities in the area were capable of causing serious security breaches in the area.

A resident identified as Precious claimed young girls used the mall daily to engage in all manner of sexual immoralities.

“There are days that I see young girls doing all sorts of things because of money, especially during weekends. It is sometimes alarming, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Precious said.

A security guard identified simply as Peter said they were used to seeing the ladies around, adding that some of them even sleep with men inside their cars.

“Some of them even have sexual intercourse inside cars. When you ask them why they are engaging in such immoral acts, they will insult you, telling you it’s none of your business,” he said.

A man simply identified as Dan said, “If you see what we see here, especially at night, when it is 8.30 pm or 9 pm, it is always an eyesore because you will see the way people are paired up, in twos and threes, doing all manner of things.”

At Allen Avenue, Ikeja, ladies in different shapes stood by both sides of the roads, beckoning at every male passerby and waving down vehicles going in and out of the street.

A man who claimed to be familiar with the ladies’ activities and charges told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity that a short time fun during a downpour in places not far from Allen Avenue could go as low as N5,000.

“It is a little cheaper during a downpour because they barely get customers. So if you are lucky, you can get one of them for as low as N5,000,” he said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, was not available to comment on the security issues being raised by the residents as of the time of filing this report.

Concerns as commercial sex workers invade Lagos malls, lure men

Punch

metro

Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue

Published

6 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene

Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue

The Benue State Police Command has arrested two men in connection with the m8rder of an elderly woman accused of witchcraft in Egba village, Agatu Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Catherine Anene, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, January 2, confirmed the suspects, Bako, 50, and Oyaje Clement, 40, were arrested for their alleged roles in the k!lling which occurred on Christmas Eve.

Anene described the incident as a troubling trend of mob justice in the state, particularly targeting elderly individuals accused of witchcraft.

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“Another worrisome situation in the state is the case of people taking the law into their own hands, particularly young people killing the elderly for alleged cases of witchcraft,” she stated.

“On December 24, 2024, around 7:00 p.m., we received information about the killing of an aged woman over allegations of witchcraft in Egba village, Agatu LGA. Following investigations, two suspects were arrested in connection to the case.”

She reiterated the police commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice and urged the public to refrain from jungle justice.

Mob lynches woman accused of witchcraft in Benue

metro

Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don

Published

6 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Dr Saheed Timehin

Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don

Muslims have been urged to turn mosques to research centers, where people can learn many things as it is done in some foreign countries.

This was stated by Dr Saheed Timehin of the Department of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo at the inauguration of Jama-At-Ul-Islamiyya of Nigeria Division 7 Central Mosque, Lagos Branch, Magodo and N500 million fund raising for J.I.N International Schools.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, hailed the organization for peaceful promotion of the Islamic religion in the state.

Dr Timehin said Muslims don’t take care of mosques,

“All mosques belong to God and it is a place dedicated to worshipping God no matter the name given to it. It should be a research center. A Muslim can pray anywhere he wants, but the place where Muslims gather that we call mosque must be a place to remember God.

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“It is not where you talk about yourself, it is about God. Here, in Yorubaland, we don’t have a better understanding of mosques. They think it is a place to compete with money. It is where you fear God. It is the first school, it was where Prophet Muhammed taught people,” he said.

The scholar stressed that a mosque is not just about religion, and that the first university in the world started from a mosque.

Dr Timehin said that in those days, all mosques had libraries, classrooms and that scholars lived there.

He added that it was a place for Muslims to resolve issues, adding that the first parliament in Islam started from a mosque.

“A mosque should be revered. We can do all sorts of learning in a mosque. In Iraq, all their mosques have libraries and all the Imams have offices. The Imam should have visiting hours to attend to people. We should have all these in our mosques. Mosques are known for good things generally. We don’t even get good messages in many mosques these days. An Imam should be able to talk to anybody. An Imam should know something about everything because you will be talking to a lot of people.

“In some countries, they have places for research and people see mosques as a place for social engagements. This mosque has several features and we can add others. It should not be for Jumat prayers or marriages alone. They should organise workshops and seminars there,” he said.

Mosques should be research centres – Varsity don

metro

Kidnappers demand additional N60m to release couple after family raise N10m ransom

Published

7 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Trends Admin

Mallam Yakubu Dada and his wife

Kidnappers demand additional N60m to release couple after family raise N10m ransom

The abductors of a retired civil servant, Mallam Yakubu Dada and his wife, have refused to release them after payment of N10m ransom.

The couple was kidnapped along Kontagora-Tegina road in Niger State in October, 2024.

According to a journalist with Daily Trust, Akote Sadeeq Abubakar, Dada’s family sold his house, car, and household items to raise the N10m they paid to the kidnappers.

However, the kidnappers demanded an additional N60m ransom and ten motorcycles which they said they cannot meet as they have sold all their valuables.

“As we celebrate the New Year in peace, let us not forget that many residents of Niger State remain in captivity, with their families losing hope of their return,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday, January 2.

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“One such victim is Mallam Yakubu Dada, a retired civil servant, and his youngest wife, who were kidnapped on the Kontagora-Tegina road in October. In a desperate attempt to secure their release, his family sold everything they owned—his house, car, televisions, and furniture—to raise the N10 million initially paid to the abductors.

“However, while awaiting their freedom, the kidnappers have now demanded an additional N60 million and 10 motorcycles. The family simply cannot meet these new demands.

“Furthermore, 23 women from Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area have been in captivity since February 2024, along with many farmers from Kontagora and Mariga who are also being held hostage.

“The Niger State government must act immediately to intervene and ensure their safe release.”