Sex workers in Akure, the Ondo State capital, are calling on the government and brothel owners to provide them with better security following the tragic death of one of their colleagues during a brawl with a client.

The incident, which happened in a local brothel, has left many of them shaken and demanding urgent intervention to safeguard their lives while on the job.

According to reports, trouble started when a male client, dissatisfied after paying N15,000 for an overnight session, demanded a refund from the sex worker. A close friend of the deceased revealed that the woman was unwell on the night of the encounter, which affected her ability to satisfy the customer.

“She was not feeling fine but still agreed to be with him. The next morning, he was unhappy and started arguing. Others tried to calm him down, and he eventually left,” the friend recounted.

Unfortunately, the man later returned to the brothel, insisting on getting his money back. By then, the sex worker was too weak to operate her phone and none of her colleagues knew her password to help with the transfer. The situation escalated, ending tragically in her death.

Another sex worker, who identified herself as Precious, lamented how demanding and risky their line of work is. She appealed for better protection against abusive clients.

“This job drains us physically and emotionally. That man clearly wanted more than she could give. If we had proper regulations and security, maybe she would still be alive,” Precious said.

The women are urging authorities and brothel operators to step in and create safer conditions for them. They stressed that without adequate protection and fair systems in place, they remain vulnerable to violent clients and similar dangerous situations.