In this interview, Unyime Ibanga a.k.a Overcomer, seen then as the most dreaded militant, talked to Straightnews on his role during the Etim Ekpo crisis. Seen as a mastermind, Akwa Ibom Police Command declared him wanted. Granted pardon in 2018, Ibanga confesses ‘Now, I am government pikin.’
Excerpts:
Who are you?
My name is Unyime Ibanga also known as Overcomer.
Where are you from?
I come from Ikpe in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.
Where is your mother from?
My mother hails from Ikot Inyang Abia in Ukanafun Local Government Area.
Which school did you attend?
I attended and obtained First School Leaving Certificate from Primary School, Ikpe Annang in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area. But I did not go further my studies when my father died.
How was your early life like?
I started my early life after school with commitment to service in the church, after which I left for Port Harcourt in Rivers State to seek green pastures. I dealt on lumbering business. I sold and supplied planks to customers. I later relocated to my village to continue with other forms of business.
Were you at home when the cult war broke out in your village?
During the crisis that rocked the village and the local government area, I was detained at Maximum Prisons, Ikot Ekpene. After serving my jail term, I was discharged on November 2, 2016. I came back and met the violence that engulfed everywhere. However, I did not take part in it. I concentrated on my business: petty trading, sale of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol and kerosene. I also dealt on recharge cards and charged telephones for customers at Ikpe junction.
In charging telephones for money, I was accused of charging and selling telephones to ‘bad boys.’ I said ‘no’ that I did not do that. I could not identify those who steal or buy stolen telephones. Shortly after, security operatives came and razed my business premises. Later, they set ablaze my residential house. I became stranded. Out of frustration, I moved to live in the forest, but I was not part of violent crime that occurred in the village.
Since then, I was hunted by security operatives. I was declared wanted on radio, newspapers and on AKBC. When they could not arrest me in my hideout, Governor Udom Emmanuel now declared that I was no longer a wanted person. That was when I decided to come out to the public and started to mingle with people. M villagers can see that I am not a bad person as I negatively painted in Akwa Ibom State, Etim Ekpo, and Ukanafun.
After the peace treaty was signed in Ukanafun and in Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State Government has discovered the hoodlums- the bad eggs- perpetuating violence and killings in the two local government areas, and not me as they earlier thought. After Akwa Ibom Government made efforts to restore peace, some bad elements started to foment trouble in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun LGAs. They have been arrested. I have been assisting the state government in their arrest. That is what I do now. I am no longer wanted in the country or in the state. I am a government man now. I am a government pikin.
During the crisis, why bdid the police arrest your mother and wife?
Yes, they were arrested; and I assured them that after their release there will be no problem. My wife and mother had been released.
Is it true that you were linked to trouble in Ikot Inyang Abia during the crisis?
I was accused wrongly. I was not part of the violence that took place in that village. Some people decided to drag my name into the mud, especially when I was labelled a notorious bandit in that village which is in Ukanafun while I come from Etim Ekpo.
What is your advice to unrepentant militants?
I want to base my advice on what has worked for me both in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun. To all youths, it is good to shun cultism. No youth should be involved in cult activities. Just lead a simple life as God created you. Cultism does not determine how successful or how rich you can be in life or how long you will live on earth.
What I have come to understand in life is that there is no gain in cultism or armed robbery, raping, kidnapping and other social vices. Any young man who wants to live should desist from cultism without that he will die untimely. Shun cultism if you want to be prominent in life. In fact, cultism hinders the growth of young men in our state.
What is your means of livelihood?
The government has been telling me to wait. But my wife is engaged in processing palm fruits; I retail kerosene so that we can feed. Since 2018 militants surrendered their arms to the state government, nothing is done to rehabilitate those youths.
How do you see this?
Since I was forced out from the forest, government is yet to fulfill its promises to us. As a government person, I relay whatever government tells to my boys. I want to advise to do so.
Has government assisted in rebuilding houses destroyed in your village?
I have not heard of anything from the government. We no longer have a market. Government assured to look into it. The state government has not built any house for anyone. Our road is in a deplorable state and our market has been closed.
How many houses were affected in your community?
We do not know the number of houses destroyed. But government can send a team to confirm the number. Government should look into our plights of the villagers.
How many children do you have?
I have two children.
Which church do you attend?
I attend Church of All Nations.
What kind of food do you eat?
I eat all kinds of food we have in Annang land- garri, foofoo and yam, among others.
