Nigeria's Dragon Squad - in pictures
-
For years, Emem Thomas endured teasing from slimmer classmates. In 2018, she founded The Dragon Squad, a team of female bouncers building women's confidence in Nigeria. All photos: Reuters -
Ms Thomas, 37, only employs women of a certain weight and shape. 'If you have the plus-size body then that is cool for me, before I now talk about your passion and other qualification of yours,' she said -
The squad's 43 recruits have provided security at about 2,000 events including parties, funerals and political rallies -
In addition to walkie-talkies, boots and dark glasses, the bouncers carry pepper spray -
Peace Vigorous, 23, said: 'Before I joined Dragon Squad, I was thinking women could only do tailoring work' -
The women have acquired skills, strength and, most importantly, confidence -
Ms Thomas, from the city of Uyo, no longer considers herself an introvert or shies away from events -
The Dragon Squad has also led her to become an advocate for girls' and women's rights. Nigeria has one of the world's highest rates of sexual assault -
'When we started, we had difficulties to make the society believe that as women we can actually conduct and operate on event security' said Ms Thomas -
Ms Thomas believes female bouncers 'have a way of taking off danger' by listening to troublemakers and victims, in a way that most men do not have patience for
Most popular today
