By Ofili Nonso
“I know you will tag me bad,” she said. “It’s clear that everyone hates ‘Runs girls’. My friends hype me, but I hear what they say behind my back. Maybe if they stayed for weeks in school without money, they would understand.”
For Priscilla who has nothing to offer men but her body, in exchange for cash, her story reflects millions of girls indulging in Runs in tertiary Institutions. The quest to survive, peer pressure, greed, sexual harassment and victimisation has changed their perception about sex.
Favour, a student and entrepreneur said, “Back in my JUPEB class, I had a friend who was a Runs girl. People respected her for that reason. I think it gives them a sense of belonging, some high class status.”
The best days for a Runs girl are Thursdays and Fridays, two days into the weekend. They get dressed in the evenings and stand by their hostels at strategic places, waiting for younger and older men with exotic cars. Upon pick-up, the girls are taken to clubs, bars and hotels to chill, before having sex. Afterwards, they return to school on Sunday morning or evening, with presents in cash or kind.
“The oppression is too much. I want to live large and be among the ruling babes on campus. So when a friend introduced me to an Alhaji who gave me 250, 000 for a night, I knew my time has come,” reveals a Runs girl, who spoke in confidence.
Few months ago, the major headlines carried the news of Chidinma Ojukwu, a 21-year-old female undergraduate and her side chick, Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, whom she allegedly stabbed to death in an apartment in Lekki. Now, her name is in full display as a murderer.
“I know of a friend in school that slept with different men for money,” Elo Alota, an ex-student and businesswoman added. “She started a business. The business was okay, but greed for expensive lifestyle and abroad trips pushed her to continue sleeping around with different men. Up till date she still sleeps around. Does she even have a relationship?” Elo pondered.
For some ladies, it’s in their nature, not necessarily that they need the money, but it’s that they want to have sex and profit from it.
“Toyosi never attended classes for a straight week. Abuja today, Ikoyi tomorrow. The minute her boyfriend found out she was a Runs girl, he broke up with her. What amazed me was that she was remorseful, yet continued her Runs,” said Laide, a final year student.
The risk of sexual transmitted diseases is also high since the trade involves multiple partners.
Whether hidden or in full public glare, Runs, is a vice that has permeated tertiary institutions.
“In the long run, it’s not profitable. Either they trade their fertility through constant abortions or their lives, by ritualists posing as clients. They lose,” Mrs. Agatha Oni, a businesswoman concludes.
