Ateke Tom
Encyclopedia
Ateke Tom is the leader of the Niger Delta Vigilante
, an ethnic Ijaw militia
in the Niger Delta
region of Nigeria
. In August 2007 following days of gun fights between various militia groups and security forces in Port Harcourt, Ateke Tom wrote to the Governor, Celestine Omehia, requesting for amnesty in response to an offer of clemency and rehabilitation the government had offered to militia who surrendered.
On October 1, 2009, the 49th anniversary of Nigerian independence and three days before the closing of a government amnesty program, Tom willingly surrendered to President Musa Yaradua at the Government House, Abuja. The presidential jet was sent to fly Tom to Abuja, and the President stated that "Today, Chief Tom Ateke you have given me my 49th independence anniversary gift and I cherish it so much." Also present at the surrender were Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Defence, Gen Godwin Abbe, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike and the National Security Adviser, Sarki Mukta among others.
Niger Delta Vigilante
The Niger Delta Vigilante is an armed militia group in Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The NDV is led by Ateke Tom. The group is composed primarily by ethnic Ijaws from in and around Port Harcourt and their main goal is controlling the area's vast oil resources...
, an ethnic Ijaw militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
in the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
region of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. In August 2007 following days of gun fights between various militia groups and security forces in Port Harcourt, Ateke Tom wrote to the Governor, Celestine Omehia, requesting for amnesty in response to an offer of clemency and rehabilitation the government had offered to militia who surrendered.
On October 1, 2009, the 49th anniversary of Nigerian independence and three days before the closing of a government amnesty program, Tom willingly surrendered to President Musa Yaradua at the Government House, Abuja. The presidential jet was sent to fly Tom to Abuja, and the President stated that "Today, Chief Tom Ateke you have given me my 49th independence anniversary gift and I cherish it so much." Also present at the surrender were Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Defence, Gen Godwin Abbe, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike and the National Security Adviser, Sarki Mukta among others.