A woman named Blessing has captured the attention of social media users in Benue State after she was filmed taking a man's mattress when he refused to compensate her for a night together.
The unusual incident has drawn both criticism and sympathy, highlighting the stark realities facing many in the community. According to IDOMA VOICE, Blessing, a mother of two, recounted that after spending the night with the man, he claimed he could not afford to pay her. Instead, he offered her the option of either his home theater system or his mattress.
In a twist, the man left the next morning with his home theater system, leaving Blessing with the mattress. Speaking to activist Ukan P Kurugh, Blessing explained, “When he took me home, he said in the morning that he couldn’t pay. He told me to choose between his home theater or his mattress. By morning, he had taken the home theater and told me to take the mattress to sell if I wanted. So, I picked the mattress and went outside.”
The incident caught the attention of a neighbor who inquired about what had happened, resulting in the event being recorded and shared online.
In her interview, Blessing shared her struggles that led her to sex work. “I got into this after my mum died while she was nine months pregnant. After her passing, my father tried to marry me off at a young age, but I refused. When he remarried, the pressure on me grew, and I felt I had to run away,” she said.
Despite eventually getting married and having two children, Blessing revealed that her husband abandoned them, leaving her to support her family. “With no other means to support my children, I had no choice but to start this business to feed them and pay their school fees,” she said.
However, Philanthropist Adoo Eugenia Ter has drawn attention to Blessing's plight, resulting in over N500,000 in donations from caring Nigerians. This support will help Blessing embark on a new business venture, allowing her to move away from the streets and provide for her family in a more sustainable manner, IDOMA VOICE reports.