Sex workers panic as man dies at brothel

Panic gripped sex workers in the Mile 2 Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday after a man reportedly slumped and died inside a popular brothel on Azikiwe Street.

Witnesses said the yet-to-be identified man had checked into the Port Harcourt facility to meet one of the commercial sex workers but suddenly collapsed moments later.

His death plunged the premises into confusion as several of the sex workers reportedly took to their heels to avoid police arrest.

A report by Daily Trust said that the man had earlier engaged in a heated argument with one of the attendants before the tragic incident.

Advertisement

He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival.

By Monday morning, the usually busy brothel and adjoining beer parlours were deserted, as many of the women vanished, leaving behind scattered personal belongings and open rooms.

Confirming the development, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the case had been transferred from the Azikiwe Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

She added that a male suspect linked to the incident had been arrested for questioning as detectives worked to determine the exact cause of death.

Residents said the incident had reignited fear among the sex workers around the Port Harcourt brothel, which has long been notorious for late-night activities and violent altercations.