Police Crackdowns, Human Rights Abuses, and Sex Work Industry in Nigeria: Evidence From an Empirical Investigation

• Author: Olufemi Adeniyi Fawole,Habeeb Abdulrauf Salihu
• Published date: 01 March 2021
• Date: 01 March 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1057567720907135
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Police Crackdowns, Human

Rights Abuses, and Sex Work

Industry in Nigeria: Evidence

From an Empirical

Investigation

Habeeb Abdulrauf Salihu

1

and Olufemi Adeniyi Fawole

2

Abstract

This study undertook a qualitative investigation into police crackdowns as a form of operational

control mechanism employed to suppress sex workers and sex work industry in Ilorin Emirate,

Kwara State, Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative research method. One hundred and six

female commercial sex workers (41 at street hot spots and 65 in brothels) participated. They were

aged between 19 and 47 and selected through a variety of sampling methods including purposive,

referral, and venue-based sampling methods. In-depth interview was the instrument used in data

collection, and thematic data analysis was employed in analyzing the data. Results indicate that police

crackdown is usually experienced by sex workers at street hot spots and in brothels and are often

associated with brutality, human rights abuses, and extortion, which have negative impacts on the

livelihoods and general well-being of sex workers. Sex workers devised some strategies to escape

and avoid police arrests and abuses. Thus, crackdowns merely displace sex workers during intense

restrictions but do not reduce sex work activities. Therefore, the study suggests a change in sup-

pressive approach to an inclusive nonviolent method in reducing commercial sex work activities.

Keywords

sex work industry in Nigeria, Nigerian sex workers, police extrajudicial practices, Nigeria Police

Force, suppressive anti-sex work policy

Introduction

Regulation of sex work

1

is one of the prominent subjects that dominate d iscussions among

researchers, policy makers, and human rights activists around the world. Regime(s) in the enforce-

ment of sex work policies varies from state to state. Generally, sex work is governed through three

1

Department of Criminology and Security Studies, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

2

Department of Sociology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Corresponding Author:

Habeeb Abdulrauf Salihu, Department of Criminology and Security Studies, University of Ilorin, P.M.B 1515 Ilorin, Nigeria.

Email: salihu.ha@unilorin.edu.ng

International CriminalJustice Review

2021, Vol. 31(1) 40-58

ª2020 Georgia State University

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DOI: 10.1177/1057567720907135

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major regulatory models, namely criminalization, legalization, and decriminalization (Cunningham

& Kendall, 2011). Criminalization is the most widely adopted model in relation to commercial sex in

many countries. As opposed to the legalization (that permits some types of sex work to exist) and

decriminalization models (that adopts the laws that regulate other commercial activities to regulate

sex work), criminalization is a model administered through established laws that are deliberately

aimed at abolishing sex work and punishing any activities associated with selling sex, organizing it,

advertising it, or buying it (Lutnick & Cohan, 2009; Saunders & Kirby, 2010). These laws are often

enforced by law enforcement agencies with actively devoted squads to track down and prosecuted

sex work and other associated infractions (Della-Giusta et al., 2009).

The nature of sex work laws and the manner in which they are being enforced in countries where

sex work is criminalized have largely generated structural animosity, which subconsciously defines

sex workers as social outcasts and, consequently, legitimized and overlooked the use of force against

them by the public and law enforcement (O’Doherty, 2011; Sallmann, 2010; Sharpe, 2017a). These

laws have also equipped and/or provided the law enforcement agents, particularly the police, with

full discretion to profile and arrest people who are suspected to be engaging or have engaged in sex

work at will (Nicol´e, 2006), making neighborhoods where sex workers operate automatically

mapped as dangerous zones and as a criminal hideout (Aborisade, 2018). Accordingly, through

mechanisms of the state, criminalization of sex work has generally encouraged violence and human

rights violations and promoted dehumanization of sex workers as a threat to the public (Saunders &

Kirby, 2010). On the whole, these undoubtedly have serious outcomes on their well-being (Jeffreys,

2010).

In spite of the stigma, detriment, and criminality that surround the sex work industry in most

countries, commercial sex trading, particularly among women and girls (female sex workers

[FSWs]), has continued to flourish in Nigerian communities (Aborisade, 2018). Like in other

criminalized settings, Nigerian sex work policy and its enforcement has continued to threaten the

existence of the industry through the suppression and subjugation of sex workers to all forms of

exploitations and persecutions (Aborisade & Fayemi, 2015) and increased their vulnerability to

human rights abuses by the law enforcement agencies (Fawole & Dagunduro, 2014). Popoola

(2013) posited that the law enforcement agencies and the general public often perceive the industry

as a threat that continues to undermine the institution of marriage and subvert the moral values

underlying society. Consequently, sex workers remain the most vulnerable and extremely targeted

group in Nigeria.

Issues surrounding sex work profession in Nigeria have not received considerable attention from

the academic world. Many of the available academic literature are basically theoretical while very

few are empirical-based studies. Besides, a significant number of them focused on issues such as the

factors that led people into sex work industry (which is essentially socioecono mic challenges),

vulnerability of sex workers to violence, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and how they manage

it, sex work and trafficking of women and girls, and the challenges sex workers pose to the wider

society (Alobo & Ndifon, 2014; Fawole & Dagunduro, 2014; Forbi et al., 2008; Tyoanande &

Samson, 2014). Empirical research that explores female commercial sex workers’ relationship and

encounters with law enforcement agency in Nigeria is scanty.

This study seeks to examine how police suppression during the enforcement of sex work policies

affects both street hot spot (street-based) and brothel FSWs in Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State, North

Central geopolitical region of Nigeria, a predominantly Muslim society where social stigma against

sex workers is more prevalent compared with other parts of Nigeria. Street hot spot is defined in this

research as a place or location, mostly on the street corner where sex workers wait and solicit for

potential customers, while brothel is defined as place or premises where sex workers use for sexual

activity or where the exchange of sex for money between sex workers and their clients takes place.

Salihu and Fawole 41