Bauchi begins headcount of commercial sex workers

The Bauchi Government says it has begun a one-week headcount of commercial sex workers operating in the state.

Permanent Commissioner, Bauchi State Hisbah Command, Aminu Balarabe, stated this at the inauguration of the enumeration exercise of the sex workers, on Wednesday in Bauchi.

Balarabe said the exercise was designed to support the sex workers with economic empowerment to enable them to quit prostitution, learn trades and become self-reliant.

He said that the state government would also assist the identified sex workers who are willing to be reunited with their families, adding that the exercise is not meant to witch-hunt or discriminate against them.

The commissioner said that the state government had initiated the exercise after careful deliberations and considerations of the plight of the sex workers.

The exercise, he said, would enable the state government to properly plan and determine the financial and moral commitments to rehabilitate the sex workers.

“The state 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.

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