Segun Ajiboye
A primordial heart beats loud in a part of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State. Although it is concealed by the hustling and bustling of business men and women, beautiful structures and sophistication of modernity, Ipodo, a community in the heart of Ikeja has not lost touch with nature. At its centre is a large shrine dedicated to the worship of Esu (the Yoruba word for Satan).
Constructed with blocks, the shrine, symbolic and
instructive of the kind of lifestyle that prevails at Ipodo, is decorated with
pieces of white cloth that have long turned brown with the vicissitudes of
weather. Pots containing various sacrificial items also adorn the shrine.
Ipodo’s paradox consists in the fact that it is also home to at least a church
and no fewer than two mosques also meant to serve the religious needs of the
Christian and Muslim population in the area.
Located a short distance away from the popular Toyin Street
in Ikeja, Ipodo is bounded by Awolowo Road, Oba Akran Avenue and Mobolaji
Bank-Anthony Way. Thus, it is strategically located in the business district of
Ikeja. And because it hosts a thriving market that boasts different types of
merchants and merchandise, it is never in short supply of crowds day and night.
Its proximity to the aforementioned popular streets also means that it serves
as an access road to the unending crowd on their ways to other notable streets
and religious institutions in the area.
As darkness hovers in the horizon, Ipodo manifests its true
identity as home to prostitutes, drug peddlers and addicts as well as petty
thieves. Like broken china in the sun, it is a combination of modern and
ancient structures. With countless corner streets leading in and out into
alleys, it provides a fool-proof haven for different shades of
people—legitimate traders, call girls and drug peddlers, among others.
To the untrained eye, the only visible brothel in Ipodo would be the Atlantic. But in the real sense, virtually every home in the area is a brothel. A resident, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that life in Ipodo is reminiscent of the biblical Sodom. “Ipodo is home to rascals. I’m not sure you would find many responsible men or women here at
night,” the resident added.
To the untrained eye, the only visible brothel in Ipodo would be the Atlantic. But in the real sense, virtually every home in the area is a brothel. A resident, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that life in Ipodo is reminiscent of the biblical Sodom. “Ipodo is home to rascals. I’m not sure you would find many responsible men or women here at
night,” the resident added.
The middle-aged man swore that he only comes to the place in
the day time to trade. “I come here because my shop is here. And, of course,
business is good here because of the number of people that pass through every
day. If you look round, you would see the type of crowd we have here. But I
would not advise you to bring up your child here because that could ruin the
child’s
future.”
At Ipodo, commercial sex workers bother less about who is watching. Their wares are not meant to be displayed at night alone. As serious-minded people go about their business, provocatively-dressed ladies sit or stand in front of brothels, awaiting clients. But those who live in untagged brothels are more decent in their approach. Except for old customers who know which house to enter, their mode of operation takes the form of a cartel. They operate through pimps who arrange their meetings with prospective customers.
On a slightly sunny afternoon during the week, a group of young boys sweated it out with rounds of snooker behind a building under construction as traders and passers-by went about their businesses. To an innocent visitor, nothing serious could be happening inside the building or behind it. But a walk into the building turned out a shocking revelation. Behind it is an old bungalow that houses commercial sex workers.
Although it was a rather hot afternoon with the sun already overhead, the women, all scantily dressed, sat with their eyes dashing left and right at the sight of men.
future.”
At Ipodo, commercial sex workers bother less about who is watching. Their wares are not meant to be displayed at night alone. As serious-minded people go about their business, provocatively-dressed ladies sit or stand in front of brothels, awaiting clients. But those who live in untagged brothels are more decent in their approach. Except for old customers who know which house to enter, their mode of operation takes the form of a cartel. They operate through pimps who arrange their meetings with prospective customers.
On a slightly sunny afternoon during the week, a group of young boys sweated it out with rounds of snooker behind a building under construction as traders and passers-by went about their businesses. To an innocent visitor, nothing serious could be happening inside the building or behind it. But a walk into the building turned out a shocking revelation. Behind it is an old bungalow that houses commercial sex workers.
Although it was a rather hot afternoon with the sun already overhead, the women, all scantily dressed, sat with their eyes dashing left and right at the sight of men.
Ipodo would also pride itself as a liberal community where
anything and everything is possible. There, different kinds of business go on
side by side without qualms. While auto spare parts dealers, food vendors and
other traders make their living from shops scattered around the neighbourhood,
hard drug dealers and other illicit traders are more covert in their
operations. A prospective buyer has to know where to go and who to approach for
the substance. But they become more daring at night when one out of every 10
people you come across is a potential seller of crack.
The night before, our correspondent had visited Ipodo and discovered more daring activities in the area. Besides the brothels, which take care of the needs of the commercial sex workers, the plank structures, which serve as platforms for displaying wares during the day, suddenly take up
another role. They serve as cheap platforms for commercial sex workers who would not blink an eyelid over who is watching.
The damage wrought by cocaine, heroin and cannabis in the area is obvious. It is common to see young men and women walk the streets aimlessly. A close observation reveals that they are under the heavy influence of hard drugs.
The night before, our correspondent had visited Ipodo and discovered more daring activities in the area. Besides the brothels, which take care of the needs of the commercial sex workers, the plank structures, which serve as platforms for displaying wares during the day, suddenly take up
another role. They serve as cheap platforms for commercial sex workers who would not blink an eyelid over who is watching.
The damage wrought by cocaine, heroin and cannabis in the area is obvious. It is common to see young men and women walk the streets aimlessly. A close observation reveals that they are under the heavy influence of hard drugs.
Not far away, another group of young men sat at the
roadside, singing and dancing. As our correspondent tried to steal a look, a
guttural voice shouted: “Ki lo n wo (what are you looking at)? He voted
with his legs without even trying to comprehend what the young man was saying.
But before he made a final exit, another blocked his way and asked, “Se ote
ni e ni (are you new here)?”
After a short discussion, the fierce-looking man believed he
had found a new customer. The young man, who later introduced himself as Mufu,
apologised and ushered our
correspondent into a corner. Two of his colleagues later joined, asking: “Wetin
you want? Na igbo you dey smoke? Try gbana, and you go know say e better pass (if you have been smoking Indian hemp, try cocaine and you will know that it is better)”.
Revealing some secrets of the trade, Mufu said that one needs a good link to gain access into the underworld market at Ipodo. “You no fit come here just like that. You need somebody wey
go link you,” he said.
Nnamdi, another trader in the area, whose shop is located on Oriyomi Street, one of the many streets linking Ipodo, narrated an encounter he had with the Ipodo drug cartel sometime ago. Having operated a shop in the area for more than seven years, he is very familiar with many of the ‘bad boys’ in the area.
He said: “Theirs is a well-coordinated cartel. They operate with a network of okada (commercial motorcycle) riders who act as go-between with the buyers and dealers. All you need is a good link.
correspondent into a corner. Two of his colleagues later joined, asking: “Wetin
you want? Na igbo you dey smoke? Try gbana, and you go know say e better pass (if you have been smoking Indian hemp, try cocaine and you will know that it is better)”.
Revealing some secrets of the trade, Mufu said that one needs a good link to gain access into the underworld market at Ipodo. “You no fit come here just like that. You need somebody wey
go link you,” he said.
Nnamdi, another trader in the area, whose shop is located on Oriyomi Street, one of the many streets linking Ipodo, narrated an encounter he had with the Ipodo drug cartel sometime ago. Having operated a shop in the area for more than seven years, he is very familiar with many of the ‘bad boys’ in the area.
He said: “Theirs is a well-coordinated cartel. They operate with a network of okada (commercial motorcycle) riders who act as go-between with the buyers and dealers. All you need is a good link.
“You may
go up and down Ipodo for a whole day without seeing anything. But if you have
somebody inside, you could get anything to buy.”
Yet, life at Ipodo is not all about drug and sex. Yussuf (surname withheld), an auto dealer, vowed that Ipodo is more dangerous than people think. According to him, Ipodo simply ranks as the most dangerous neighbourhood in the Ikeja area of Lagos. “It is a place where you can get
anything done. Drug, sex and other bad things are available in abundance. It is the
home of hired assassins. Those young men you see standing in groups of twos and
threes have no other job than robbery and killing.”
Yet, life at Ipodo is not all about drug and sex. Yussuf (surname withheld), an auto dealer, vowed that Ipodo is more dangerous than people think. According to him, Ipodo simply ranks as the most dangerous neighbourhood in the Ikeja area of Lagos. “It is a place where you can get
anything done. Drug, sex and other bad things are available in abundance. It is the
home of hired assassins. Those young men you see standing in groups of twos and
threes have no other job than robbery and killing.”
When our correspondent visited the palace of the Olu of
Ikeja, located a few metres away from the Ipodo intersection, the monarch was
not available for comments, as he was said to be away at a function. The palace
secretary, who identified herself simply as Vera, was contacted on her mobile
phone, but she declined comment. She also said the palace could not comment on
the issue because palace officials were busy celebrating Sallah.
“You may have to wait till next week. You know the royal
secretary is a Muslim, and he would be too busy to answer you now,” Vera said.
“I’m sorry I have to attend to some things now. You can call
me back next week,” she added.
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