Epie-Atissa people

The Epie and Atissa are two small tribes that live along Epie Creek, northeast of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Together, they are commonly known at the Epie-Atissa. This people was established by migrants both from Ijaw tribes to the south and from the Engenni to the north. The Engenni people are considered to be an offshoot of the Edo people. As a result, the Epie-Atissa share cultural aspects of both the Ijaw and the Engenni.^[1]

Epie-Atissa settlements include: Onopa, Igbogene, Kpansia, Ogu, Edepie, Yenaka, Opolo, Swali, Ikolo, Ekenfa, Yenagoa, and Biogbolo.^[2]

They speak the Epie language.

The Epie and Atissa remain two separate tribes. The Epie have villages that run from Igbogene to Amarata namely Igbogene, Yenegwe, Akenfa, Agudama Epie, Akenpai, Edepie, Okutukutu, Opolo, Biogbolo, Yenizue Gene, Kpansia, Yenizue Epie, Okaka, Ekeki, Azikoro and Amarata. The Atissa have villages that run from Onopa to Ikolo to Ogu to Agbura namely Onopa, Ovom, Yenagoa, Bebelibiri, Yenaka, Ikolo, Famgbe, Obogoro, Akaba, Ogu, Swali, and Agbura.

Significant events

• 23 July 2007: Two expatriates working for MTN Nigeria Limited in Akenfa-Epie, a village outside of Yenagoa, were abducted by gunmen.^[3]

References

1. ^ Alagoa, Ebiegberi Joe (2005). A History of the Niger Delta, Port Harcourt: Onyoma Research Publications. ISBN 978-37314-5-9
2. ^ Alagoa, Ebiegberi Joe ed. (1999). The Land and People of Bayelsa State: Central Niger Delta, Port Harcourt: Onyoma Research Publications. ISBN 978-35075-0-8
3. ^ "Gunmen Kill Teacher, Kidnap Expatriates In Niger Delta", The Independent, 28 July 2007