Abducted Sex Worker Escapes in Rivers.
Katherine Abayomi
Onyemachi Iwoh, a Twenty-year-old lady from Ebonyi state, escaped from forced prostitution from a brothel known as 49 around Azikiwe/Ojoto roundabout, Mile 2 Diobu Port Harcourt on Thursday, November 28th, 2024. In an exclusive interview on Sunday evening, December 1, 2024, she said commercial sex work is a taboo in her community.
Miss Onyemachi disclosed that one Ms. Joy, who she later referred to as ‘Madam’, deceived her that she would give her job in Port Harcourt to earn a living.
The twenty-year-old rescued victim received a call notifying her of an available Job.
“On Wednesday, November 27th,2023, I paid transport from Ebonyi State and came to Port Harcourt so that I could start the job Joy told me about.I used to know Joy in Abakiliki,Ebonyi State, as someone who operated a boutique.”
“Surprisingly, when I came, Joy took me into the brothel. I now understand that it was ‘ashawo’ work Joy brought me to do. I told Joy I could not do ‘ashawo’ work. Joy told me that I would not go; I should wait until the manager came. I cried and begged Joy, but she prevented me from leaving the brothel.
“On Thursday morning, when I saw opportunity to escape,I took my bag and ran out of the brothel.Joy and other commercial sex workers were dragging me before people came to my rescue”.
Miss Onyemachi told our reporter that she is gradually getting out of the trauma.
Business owners rescued Miss Onyemachi and passersby on Thursday 28th, November 2024, after she ran out of the brothel.
Some of the passersby and business owners who are from Ebonyi state contributed money and took Onyemachi to a Motor Park at Ikwerre road to board vehicle back to Ebonyi state.
We also gathered that the incident was not reported to the Police. Investigations show that old commercial sex workers who are no longer viable to male clients travel to remote villages to deceive guardians/parents of young girls to release their children/wards to them with the promise of making them(teenagers) earn a living but force and recruits the teenagers into prostitution on getting to Port Harcourt or other major cities.
