Sunday, August 31, 2014

WEEKEND RAMBLINGS : 30 minutes in Aristos’ Avenue .... TribuneNews


SEYI SOKOYA reports his experience on the Allen Avenue part of Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, where he was harassed by sex workers popularly referred to as Aristos.
IT was an impromptu encounter, a shocking experience to which the flesh could easily have submitted. Some people describe it as open cheque, while to the Yorubas it is ‘ifa’. But honestly, one cannot imagine what might be the outcome, especially in a strange territory.
This reporter’s encounter with Aristos in the heart of Allen Avenue in Ikeja, Lagos State would, no doubt, always linger in his mind. It was a scary experience and could possibly be the most embarrassing moment he had ever encountered, particularly in his journalism career. The reporter was mute and helpless when he was offered sex in the open. Despite being a reserved person who honours the opposite sex to a fault, the impromptu encounter with some sets of sex workers who were not even bothered about his wedding ring made him discover that his courage was not enough. But he eventually escaped from the den via the God of wisdom.
As the writer discovered, easy pleasure was not new to people who were familiar with the area, especially those who patronised the place often, either for business appointment or ‘crusades’ at night. Although he had often heard about the activities in the vicinity, the scenario caught him unawares, as he suddenly found himself in the midst of the seducers. They were neither scary nor armed, but they almost tempted the writer with their spotted wears and pulchritudinous faces.
Honestly, this reporter was dazed. It was as if one was in another world. It was one adventure the writer was not prepared for; otherwise he would have had more time to relate with the ladies of the night than he did or even taken the extra effort to visit the sex dungeons reportedly existing in the place.
The 30-minute encounter with the ‘high spirit ladies’ was fun and a great lesson. Allen was a haven of all sizes; any male would definitely get his taste. It was a mixture of the old and young; slim and robust, tall and short and dark and light in complexion. They flaunted their cleavages with diverse provocative outfits. These ladies were spotted at every point of the street waving at cars as well as passers-by, especially men, while some were tempted to wait for negotiation. The sex workers he came in contact with could not give a genuine reason on why they engage in the business. 
The premises of banks and some business firms, even at the close hours, were alive; the reporter sighted some daring activities of these prostitutes in front of the banks and firms. It was obvious that night life on Allen Avenue is never a dull moment. The street lights coupled with the security illuminations reflected on the glittering faces of the Aristos, just as it gave whoever wanted to have them for the night a clear picture.     
The zeal to always do the unusual and hunt for controversial artistes in the entertainment industry led the reporter into this; he escaped from a tempting interview session with one of the controversial Nollywood artistes at a hotel around Toyin street in Ikeja, only to fall into the den of Allen Avenue girls.
It was late, precisely, 11 pm. As the writer strolled down from Toyin Street linking Allen Avenue roundabout, a lady beside the road approached him and asked if she could be of assistance. He did not give any response in order not to fall into the trap of the night. As another lady called his attention while crossing the roundabout, his mind told him where he was.
This writer was still relaying his shocking experience to a colleague on telephone when another one came very close to him and started making frantic efforts to seduce him. He had to drop the call and quickly caution her. It seems she was not satisfied; the next thing was a funny display. The reporter was furious. She was not shy to show off in the open. Dipping one of her fingers into her mouth; she brought the other hand down to her crotch as she came closer. The reporter resisted and pleaded that he was not in the mood, then fled that spot. To the reporter’s surprise, before the twinkle of an eye, she had entered into negotiations with another man at the same spot.
The reporter took a step of faith forward, eager to get a taxi out of the vicinity in no time, but all efforts were thwarted. Not far from where he discharged the other lady, he was surrounded by another set of sparkling ladies, whom he discharged with a little psyche. But one of them persisted; she came within a close range and, with her pointed ‘heavy balls,’ she told the reporter to his face to ‘come and do.’
He replied, “to do what?” and she was not shy to offer him sex in the open. He told her that the kind gesture was appreciated, but it should be fixed for another time, as he was merely waiting for a friend to pick him up. She did not want to let him go and he did not want to appear too harsh. Truth be told, he was also scared of being attacked.
She offered a way out: she and the writer could “have it somewhere on the street” before his friend arrived. That was not all: if he was not in the mood for sex, she could only suck on his manhood. He gasped and was short of words. “Are you avoiding me?” she asked as she flaunted her boobs and asked if she was not endowed enough. He had to tell her that she was good looking, and that he would want to meet her another time, all in the bid to discharge her. She later said: “Give me money for Indomie since  you have refused to have fun.” The reporter was almost tempted to give her money, but he did not because he feared that others might besiege him to get theirs too and he could put himself in a mess.  
Wondering if the security agents are aware of the activities of Allen Avenue? Interestingly, some policemen suspected to be stationed at the environs were also having a nice time. The reporter sighted a police van at a strategic spot where some policemen were enjoying their stay with some set of Aristos. The reporter also learnt that a security man protects the Aristos from being attacked.     
A taxi driver who took the reporter out of the den confirmed that the policemen stationed at the axis condone the activities on the street, especially at night. “They also have their cuts. They even protect them from being harassed or kidnapped. In fact, the policemen, banks and company security guards and taxi drivers also patronise them.”
He also relayed his recent experience with a prostitute who boarded his cab and could not afford the sum of N500 they agreed upon, but told him to have sex with her in his car in place of the money, an offer which he claimed he refused.
“They are not costly; one can have fun with them with either less than N500 or a little above that. It is no more news that they have sex on the street; some prefer having fun beside the walls, in the car, on the tiles of ATM machine booths, or even at the security guards’ cubicles. Lately, some of them have been coming with mats. All they just have to do is to settle the security guards on duty for the period of time they intend to spend,” he revealed.
Is the government aware of the activities of Allen Avenue? And are the proprietors of banks and companies aware of what their buildings are being used for at the close hours? 

No comments:

Post a Comment