Ikpara, ghetto of Warri Oil City

By Tosan Omamogho

Ikpara, a place in Pessu Market area in Warri Delta State is nothing but a ghetto in every sense of the word. It is a breeding haven for criminals’ elements and prostitutes due to the negative style of lives residents live. Everything about this shanty infested habitation is news aside that there are no toilets and bathrooms in this densely populated  area.

This area is the domicile of pick-pockets, poor and prostitutes with no access road, or positive elements of a normal life.

Residents defecate in small containers which is flung inside the drainages due to the horrible condition they live without considering the legal , environmental and health implications it could cost them when there is a epidemic outbreak, especially when there are no clinics and health centers around them.

One prominent feature in this government forsaken area, is that residents are quartered in zinc and plank houses as these are the kind of structures available in the area. Many of them cannot even afford to pay for the few available blocks buildings due to exorbitant prices attached to them by landlords.

There are constant flooding of the homes of residents in the area due to the topography and location of the area; residents usually wade through stinking dirty stagnated water to their home. This is due to poor drainage systems and good personal hygiene on the side of the people.

It was gathered that flood have destroyed property and rendered some residents homeless in this area in this rainy season due to the perennial flooding problems.

Residents of Ikpara area live a horrible life, especially as youths now take to drugs abuse and addiction as well as prostitution, pick-pockets, while the elderly resort to playing drafts, abuse of local
gin(ogogoro) and petty trading for the women to cater for their families irrespective.

There are no government health centres and they find it difficult to access medical facilities and cannot register their wards in private owned schools. The residents cannot afford the exorbitant amounts being paid as medical bills in the densely populated private hospital area than government owned.

Breeding children in this area which is a ghetto and has the semblance of a village in the city of Warri is now a challenge to residents of the area due to the non-conducive environment. As a mosquitoes breeding ground, it is not uncommon for residents to fall sick of malaria, typhoid and other diseases.

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