Sex workers in Akure, Ondo State, are mourning the death of a colleague who died following a violent clash with a male client at a brothel in the Cathedral area. The tragic incident has brought attention to the unsafe conditions and lack of healthcare access faced by workers in the industry.
Eyewitnesses said the woman was hired overnight for ₦15,000. Though she was reportedly unwell that night, she agreed to the session. The client became aggressive the next morning when his expectations were not met. Attempts to calm him failed, and he later demanded a refund.
According to a close friend of the deceased, the woman was too weak to respond, and her phone was inaccessible due to a locked screen. The client’s continued demands escalated tensions, prompting sex workers to call the police.
The Ondo State Police confirmed the incident, with spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka Olushola stating that the client and three accomplices were arrested. Investigations are ongoing.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of sex workers in Akure who often lack health insurance and legal protection. Many have called on the government and brothel owners to implement safety protocols and ensure access to medical care.
A sex worker, said that many women in the industry rely on self-help networks and informal remedies to cope with health and emotional challenges.
“We live with constant risks and no one seems to care,” she said. “If there were proper rules and support, this tragedy might have been prevented.”
Sex workers are now urging authorities to provide formal protections and create ways to report abuse before more lives are lost.