Prior to 2009, they were feared warlords in the Niger Delta’s creeks whose actions instilled fear, particularly among the government and its security forces, who wanted to keep the oil installations risk-free so that the international corporations could continue digging for oil.
Some former militant leaders and agitators who accepted amnesty 16 years ago throughout the Niger Delta under the late President Musa Yar‘Adua have unexpectedly risen to become traditional rulers, powerful forces to be reckoned with in their communities and states, and most importantly, peace advocates, despite their wrongdoings against the state, which they dubbed the “Niger Delta Struggle.”
Observe Ateke Tom, Okochiri’s Amanyanabo 60 years old Among them is Ateke Michael Tom, the current Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town, Wakirike in Okrika local government area, Rivers State, and the former commander of a militia group called Niger Delta Vigilante, or NDV.
His gang used to participate in gunfights in the oil region with the security forces and other splinter militia groups. He willingly accepted amnesty and surrendered all his weapons in favor of peace on October 1, 2009.
Eight years after accepting amnesty, he became king before anyone else. On November 25, 2017, he was anointed Amanyanabo of Okochiri Town by Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The previous First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, who is also from Okrika, was known to be quite close to him.
Ateke is still regarded as the original Amanyanabo of the erstwhile Okochiri Kingdom.