Bauchi Commences Census Of Sex Workers

According to Alhaji Aminu Balarabe, Permanent Commissioner, Bauchi State Hisbah Command, the Bauchi State Government has initiated a census of commercial sex workers.

This was said by Balarabe at the start of the enumeration procedure in Bauchi on Wednesday.

He explained that the exercise was aimed to provide economic empowerment to sex workers, allowing them to leave prostitution, acquire trades, and become self-sufficient.

The state administration, according to Balarabe, will also assist identified sex workers who want to be reunited with their family.

He also stated that the activity was not intended to be a witch hunt or to discriminate against them.

According to the Commissioner, the state government began the program after careful consideration of the predicament of sex workers.

The process, he claims, will allow the state government to properly plan and identify the financial and moral obligations necessary to rehabilitate sex workers.

“Bauchi government decided to provide them with the necessary empowerment skills and seed capital to enable them to quit the immoral attitude of prostitution.

“Some of them who are not indigenes of the state will be reunited with their parents if they so wish. The state government will contact their state governments for proper handing over of those affected,” he said.

“Biodata forms will be distributed to the sex workers to provide their personal information such as state of origin and the reason they ventured into prostitution.

“They are also required to indicate the type of trade or occupation of their choice. The state will also sponsor the marriage of those willing to marry or remarry.

“We are fully committed to implementing the Sharia law as provided in our legal code but with full consideration of fundamental human rights of every citizen,” he said.

Miss Hafsat Aliyu, speaking on behalf of the sex workers, requested the state government to keep its word and ensure that the impacted sex workers are effectively empowered.

She emphasized her wish to give up prostitution and participate in meaningful activities that would contribute to the state’s social and economic growth.

NAN