Illustrative photo of commercial workers at night
The Mechanic Village at Apo in Abuja’s has dramatically transformed
into a hideout of some sort for different kinds of illegitimate
businesses, ranging from belligerency, thuggery, prostitution and
smoking.
A place, which was hitherto made for commercial activities and
residency, now prides itself as the headquarters of commercial
prostitution and high-profile crimes in Abuja.
Most of the people living around the popular area either run
provisions stores or kiosks, restaurants, mechanics or shops. They sell
vehicle parts and other automobile spare parts. Some of them do not live
there. They come from other places to run their businesses.
However, it was learnt that there are two types of businesses that
take place in the vicinity. These businesses include the legitimate and
illegitimate ones. While the legitimate activities or businesses are
recognized by law the other type is recognized only by outlaws.
Good boys turn bad at night
During the day, they may look and behave like saints, but at night,
they indulge in different illicit activities. It was learnt that most
of the boys are belligerents. They could engage in combats, especially
at nights, that sometimes, leave them gruesomely injured or that could
result to death. An instance was given of two boys that fought over
money and one was stabbed by the other to death.
Some of them go to the extent of paying some vigilante groups to
beat up and rob any stranger that goes there at night, precisely from
9pm. These vigilantes are also people that work there during the day.
While some break into shops to steal when the shop owners are not there
and no one is watching, others stage open robbery. However, it was
confirmed that a thief can only break into a shop with less or without
security.
Another instance was given of a boy, between 19 and 24, who broke
into a phone shop and stole an Android phone. Unfortunately for him, he
was caught and made to pay for his action.
Meanwhile, it was observed that the children there are not properly
taken care of, as they look tattered and abandoned. They play in the
mud, push wheelbarrows, eat in a dirty environment where flies also come
to have a share of their meal and they appear to emulate the lifestyle
of the older thugs, fighting among themselves and hurling obscene words
at one another during those fights.
A smoking place
It is also known as a place where young smokers live and work.
Here, smoking is done at any moment; in the morning, afternoon or night.
It is done by boys especially, below the age of 40.
Harlotry among young girls
Apo Mechanic Village has also turned into a brothel of some sort
where young girls, even from neighbouring areas, go to at night to get
paid for prostitution. Girls between the ages of 19 and 30 are involved
in this ignoble act. Only a few girls prostitute during the day. Most of
them come out at nights to have s*x with different men and get paid.
This is easy for them as they also have mini hotels in the area.
According to a woman who fries and sells yams by the roadside, all
these actions are motivated by lack of money and food. The woman who
identified herself as Alice said: “When you ask them why they steal
or prostitute, they will tell you that ‘na condition’. They want to
survive and the only way they think they can do that is by stealing and
prostituting. They will also tell you that they do not have a choice.”
Culled from: Daily Sun
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