Sex costs N100 in Bodija, the Ibadan foodstuffs market
Located conspicuously at the heart of Ibadan, capital city of Oyo State, Bodija market is a sight to behold - crowded and noisy. It is the delight of every wife, cooks and others who need to shop to save some money. Here, foodstuffs come cheapest in the city, and in Nigeria as some argue. Hence foodstuffs buyers happily troop there to bring back bulk food items ranging from rice garri, elubo, fish, meat, tuwo, lafun, vegetable and many others.
In Bodija, while the food buyers have their good bargain, there are other attractions at the market. Services also abide in the domain of immorality.
Bodija market wakes up as early as the cock crows, and never goes to sleep. This is not because trading lasts that long but a different transaction, heinous in nature, replaces buying and selling.
Prostitution, pornographic film shows and petty robbery take over in Bodija when buyers and sellers of food items quit.
Saturday Sun spent days observing what happens between 6pm and midnight and the discovery is simply incredible.
From the Total Filling Station at the other side of the road into the market, following the railway line that runs down into the market, sex workers in different shapes, sizes and colours would call on male passers-by, asking and even begging for patronage. “Come it is sweet, come fine man, I will do you well, na just N100. E no cost, come , make we do am sharp sharp!”. Some of them would chorus, swinging their hips to entice buyers.
Their ramshackle shelters stand facing the rail line. Some are built within the market. In most of the shelters, humble Hausa families also live as neigbhours to the sex workers. Amid the sex workers’ shelters is a mosque made of wood. As the sex worker or her patron ply the trade, they are harangued by the blaring of the public address system announcing prayers from this holy place.
Another walk through the area offers you greater embarrassment. They hoot, call and even drag you: “Come now, na me call you first, you no no me again? Come, I go do you well, come and enjoy yourself
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