Male ‘Hook-up’ Trends In Yenagoa As Women Pay Men For Night-outs

A new trend is emerging in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, as young men are allegedly joining the growing “hook-up” trade traditionally associated with women.

Investigations by LEADERSHIP Weekend around a popular drinking joint along Azikoro Road in the Ekeki area suggest that a number of young men now reportedly position themselves at night alongside female sex workers, waiting to be picked up by women willing to pay for their services.

The development, residents said, reflects changing social dynamics in the city where economic hardship and the lure for quick money may be pushing some young men into the underground trade.

During an undercover visit to the area, a woman who sells items opposite the popular joint confirmed that the practice exists, although she said it is usually done quietly.

“Normally, men used to come but it has not been like that of women. Men used to stand too and women will come and carry them at night. I know a few of them. They used to come and meet me and tell me that if I know women that need men, that they are available, seriously,” she said.

Asked if women truly come to pick the men, she said, “Ah ah… why won’t women carry them? You know there are some rich aunties that like such standards. It is vice-versa, men carry women, women carry men but men are not as open as that of women. Men never ‘cast.’ It is still somewhat low-key.”

When contacted the following day to find out how much the men allegedly charge, she explained that the amount depends on the “grade” of the individual.

“As you know, shoe get size and okirika quality differs. Everything is grade by grade; you understand. Some N50,000; N70,000. But the highest I have heard is N100,000. Your money will determine the level of guy the aunty will carry, you understand. That is how it is, so if you package yourself very well, the bigger aunties will come for you,” she said.

However, some regular customers at the drinking joint expressed mixed reactions, with some confirming hearing about the practice while others doubted the claim.

One regular customer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he only knew of one young man who allegedly engages in such activities.

“I am not into hook-ups, how would I know? But what I have seen is one stupid boy who was a security man there before. When I met him afterwards, he told me he was doing hook-up. He said women carry him because he ‘does it’ very well and they pay him money. So, that is the only one I have seen.

“I know the boy as a security boy but it seems as he started that hook-up, he was sacked or something. I don’t really know although I always see him standing by the road beside the joint where the girls usually stand at night and I think he started selling ‘drugs,’ but if he is doing other things, I don’t know,” he said.

He also expressed concern that the report might affect businesses in the area.

“I hope this will not affect someone’s business because the owner of the joint will never be in support of such an act. There is nothing like men standing there as far as I am concerned, it is only that boy I know of and since that time, I have never seen or heard anything like that,” he added.

Another regular customer said he had heard rumours about the trend but believes the women involved may not necessarily be wealthy as often claimed.

“Yes, I have heard about such a thing but I don’t know much about it. I don’t think the women who carry these guys are that rich women as alleged. It will still be insane women like them that patronise them, especially those that are into drugs,” he said.

A drinks supplier who also operates around the area said he had never witnessed such activities and doubted they occur openly around the joint.

“I have not heard anything like that before. I don’t think that kind of thing happens there. If such is happening, people that stay close to that place should have known. I doubt if that is true,” he said.

He added that the owner of the joint would likely not tolerate such behaviour if it were happening openly.

“Even the owner of the joint that I know would not even tolerate such a thing. He would have pursued all of them out of that place if he hears that such a thing is happening there. Unless they are doing it ‘coded’ but if he knows about it, he will send all of them out of that place,” he said.

Residents said, if confirmed, the trend could raise serious social concerns about unemployment, youth vulnerability and the growing underground nightlife economy in the state capital.