In the heart of Benin City, the capital of Edo State, lies the Ikpoba Slope community, a neighourhood affected by environmental pollution.
Once a thriving area, it has now become a breeding ground for infectious diseases.
This is largely due to the 23 abattoirs that operate unchecked, releasing a toxic mix of animal waste, blood, and other pollutants into the environment.
Recently, this once-thriving community has become a mere shadow of its former self.
It wasn’t just the choking stench of animal waste or the smoke from burning cow horns, but the grief of a couple burying their child.
10-year-old Samuel Osarion succumbed to typhoid fever.
Her parents, Ruth and Emmanuel Osarion, had spent their meagre savings on medication, but it was not enough.
“Samuel just got weaker and weaker. We took him to the hospital, but they told us it was typhoid from contaminated water. He didn’t even last two days,” her father said.
Over the past decade, Ikpoba Slope has become synonymous with environmental degradation, health crises, and neglect.
This situation is closely tied to the unregulated abattoirs, which slaughter nearly 200 cows daily and dump waste indiscriminately into the community.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), environmental pollution accounts for 26 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria, with children under the age of five being the most vulnerable.
Walking through Ikpoba Slope, it is impossible to ignore the evidence of this environmental calamity.
The streets are littered with heaps of animal dung, coagulated blood trickles into the Ikpoba River, and decomposing carcasses attract swarms of flies.
The air is thick with the smell of decay and burning cow horns, making breathing a labourious task.
Ken Omusi, a former youth leader and long-time resident, described the ordeal.
He estimated that 80 per cent of households in the community spend their income on medication.
“Every day, we battle flies, mosquitoes, and rats. The stench makes it hard to sleep. Children fall sick almost weekly with malaria, typhoid, and diarrhoea. Our people are dying, and no one seems to care.
“We are always treating the same illnesses. Women and children suffer the most. Often, we bury someone.
“It’s either a child who didn’t survive diarrhoea or an elderly person who couldn’t fight off malaria anymore,” he lamented.
Clearly, the once-thriving residential community is now dominated by abattoirs and non-resident labourers.
Many of the original inhabitants have fled, unable to bear the health hazards and deteriorating living conditions.
“Out of desperation, people sold their homes and moved out. Now, those houses are occupied by wheelbarrow pushers, scrap metal collectors, and other labourers, mostly from Northern Nigeria,” Omusi said.
Residents who remain must endure the daily horror of their environment.
Justin Isaac, who lives with his wife and two children, described the ordeal of simply existing in the area.
“We spray air fresheners all the time, but it doesn’t help. The stench is unbearable, and the flies are relentless. We fear an outbreak of cholera or something worse,” he said.
Another horrifying sight in the community is the Ikpoba River, which used to be a pristine waterway but has now turned into a sludge of coagulated blood, animal waste, and chemical runoff.
Children who play near its banks are at risk of skin infections and other waterborne diseases.
Dr Obinna Magnus Onuoha, a public health expert and veterinarian, warned about the river’s contamination.
According to him, if nothing is done, the situation will only worsen, leading to a progressive increase in illnesses affecting residents around the river and its environs.
“The worst-case scenario is the resultant deaths of people. You can see the example of the cholera outbreak that we have been experiencing in many states, with Lagos particularly hit hardest.
“It is very disheartening to know that these harmful actions;the dumping of cow dung/wastes are happening year after year, and we can see their debilitating effects on people.
“There is nothing healthy or beneficial in dumping cow dung/waste or any animal waste for that matter into water sources that may feed back to our communities.
“Water is life and we depend on it for all our domestic needs. We depend on water for sustenance.
“The least we can do is ensure that such water sources are safe for people to consume without fear of sickness or injury.
“Children, pregnant women, and the elderly or those with underlying health issues are those most at risk of being severely affected by the contamination of the Ikpoba River,” he pointed out.
The Abuja-based public health specialist called on the state government to exhibit political will and allocate resources to address the issue.
“The State Government is only as strong as its indigenes are able to contribute to its economic activities and growth. A healthy youthful population is a blessing, and it will benefit the State to reap the demographic dividends,” he said.
Onuoha also called for the establishment of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives in the state.
He further urged that all abattoirs operating around the Ikpoba River be required to safely dispose of all animal waste, away from potential water sources and residential areas.
“Designate animal waste dump sites that are beyond living areas to avoid contamination with residents. Resources need to be deployed to transport these wastes under the strictest hygienic conditions as much as possible.
“All biosecurity measures in and around abattoirs or animal farms must be adhered to. The Veterinary Service of the State must be empowered to enforce these regulations and policies,” he proposed.
The residents insist that they have taken their plight to the government, the courts, and regulatory agencies, but all to no avail.
Omusi explained the community’s frustration, saying, “We have written countless letters to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment.
“We even sued the abattoir owners, but they hired Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to quash the case. Money rules the judiciary here”.
The residents also accused the government of prioritising revenue collection over public health.
“They collect N10,000 per cow slaughtered, yet they do nothing about the waste,” said Osagieduwa Imafidon, the acting community leader.
Imafidon alleged that the government was more concerned with money than their lives.
Sunny Omokaro, the newly elected National President of the Butchers Employee Union of Nigeria, acknowledged the dire state of the abattoirs in Ikpoba Slope.
“What I saw there shocked me. It’s unacceptable,” he said.
Omokaro, however, criticised both the community and the local government for their roles in creating this crisis.
“The land for these abattoirs was sold by the community, and the councils issued permits without proper site analysis.
“Most of these abattoirs don’t even meet the minimum land requirements, but they were approved anyway.
“Before abattoirs are licensed, local governments must inspect the locations to determine whether it is suitable or not, but they don’t do that,” he said.
He said that, according to the law, the minimum land space for an abattoir is 100 by 200 feet.
According to him, out of the more than 23 abattoirs in the area, only two or three meet the requirements, while many measuring 50 by 100 feet were approved by the government.
The union president called for immediate action, including relocating the abattoirs to non-residential areas, establishing proper waste disposal systems, and deploying veterinary doctors to ensure the safety of meat for consumption.
The residents of Ikpoba Slope are pinning their hopes on Gov. Monday Okpebholo, who promised during his campaign to address environmental health issues.
“We voted for him because he promised us change. Now we are waiting for him to act,” Imafidon said.
Omokaro suggested forming a government task force to regulate abattoir operations.
“We need security agents, health officials, and butchers on this task force. The government should also reduce the number of abattoirs and enforce strict hygiene standards,” he said.
As the sun sets over Ikpoba Slope, the cries of children mix with the hum of mosquitoes and the distant roar of generators.
For families like the Osarions, life here is a daily battle against sickness, despair, and neglect.
“We just want to live like humans again,” Ruth Osarion said, still grieving over the loss of her son.
She said, “We want our children to grow up healthy. We want the smell to go away. Is that too much to ask?”
Sadly, the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 reports that 34 per cent of children under the age of five in Edo suffer from diarrhoea, while 25 per cent are afflicted with malaria.
Nevertheless, Mr Jude Ekpu, Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Environment, in his reaction, said abattoirs in the state were being managed and supervised by the ministries of environment, agriculture, and local government councils.
According to him, the Ministry of Environment oversees sanitation at the abattoirs and their surroundings.
He assured that inspections are regularly carried out to ensure cleanliness.
“We have an enforcement department that ensures sanitation in the abattoir environment and other open and public spaces like markets to maintain a clean environment.
“We visit the abattoirs regularly, and where they fail to meet sanitation standards, we serve abatement notices.
“If they still don’t comply, we issue quick notices and take them to court to enforce compliance.
“We also expect that the communities housing these abattoirs report any irregularities to the ministry for immediate action, as we are concerned with the wholesomeness of the meat we consume,” Ekpu said.
He noted that the ministry also monitors the discharge from the abattoirs to prevent any health hazards.
Before any cow is slaughtered, Ekpu explained, it is inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure it is suitable for consumption.
“The Ministry of Environment, on the other hand, ensures that the environment is clean and that the by-products of the slaughter are disposed of properly”.
Ekpu, nonetheless, urged the community members to alert the ministry and the government promptly if they have concerns about abattoir activities.
All in all, stakeholders say time is running out for Ikpoba Slope, and without immediate intervention, the community faces not only an epidemic but also the loss of its very essence.
Will the government listen to their cries, or will they remain buried under the weight of waste, stench, and neglect?
By Usman Aliyu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)