EKPETIAMA IBE

EKPETIAMA IBE: The Ekpetiama are in present day Bayelsa State. The Ekpetiama derived from the ancestor Opu-Ogbo who lived in the Isoma-bou (Opuan-bou) ancient settlement. Ekpeti was one of the descendants. The ancestor who gave the Ekpetiama their name was one Ekpeti who derived from the Isoma-bou area (Opuan-bou). Between 700 and 1000 AD the ancestors remained in that ancient settlement. From this Isoma-bou area the ancestors founded a settlement, which was named Ekpetiama, within the same vicinity. From this settlement descendants founded the towns of Tombia, Bumodi Agudama, Akabiri and Gbarantoru. From about 1200 AD Tombia ancestors led by Okpo left to found another Tombia in the Kalabari area. They first settled at Nyankpo near present Day Bonny town. It was whilst they were there that the ancestors of the Ibani came and settled to found Ibani. Later Nyankpo was washed away by the Atlantic ocean, they then migrated first to Elo-Tombi in the Andoni area, then to Bregede, then to Elem-Tombia and finally to Ekule-kiri-beTombia centuries later. Also ancestors from Ekpetiama-Tombia emigrated to Swali in the Epie Atissa area, while some went and settled in Assay and Okini in Umuoru, all places in the Isoko and Aboh areas. The migration of the ancestors of the Ekpetiama was well before the sacking of the Isoma-bou area the ancestral home. It was also pre-14th century as the traditions of Ibani maintain that Tombia was founded before their arrival. Therefore Ekpetiama Ibe is pre-14th century.