Tompolo Biography: Niger Delta Activist, Age, Net Worth & Influence

Tompolo has been a big name in the Niger Delta region and other parts of Nigeria because of his position in the region. There are several things to know about Tompolo.

In this article, you will know the former militant leader better because I’m going to let you know her biography, Niger Delta activism, age, net worth and other important information about him.

Quick Fact

Full Name: Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo
Popularly Known As: Tompolo
Date of Birth: April 12, 1971
Place of Birth: Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria
Ethnicity: Ijaw
Profession: Former militant leader, businessman, spiritual leader
Known For: His leadership in MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta)
Amnesty: Accepted the Nigerian government amnesty in 2009 by former Nigerian president Yar’Adua.
Business: Owner of Global West Vessel Specialists Ltd
Religion: Chief priest of the Egbesu deity (Woyin religion)
Net Worth: Estimated in billions of naira.

Biography

Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, a popular individual in Nigeria over the years, is known as Tompolo. He is known for his role as a former militant leader, businessman, and even spiritual figure in the Niger Delta region.

Tompolo was born on April 12, 1971, in Okerenkoko, a popular town in the Gbaramatu Kingdom of Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria.

Tompolo came from a royal family. He happens to be the fifth child and only son among his mother’s seven children. His father, Chief Thomas Ekpemupolo, was a polygamist with five wives.

Education

Tompolo attended Okepopo Primary School in Warri for his basic education. Currently, there’s no information about his tertiary education.

He attended National Comprehensive College in Warri, for his secondary education, he was able to complete his secondary education in 1993, then he joined a resistance movement in the Niger Delta.

Niger Delta Activism and Militancy

Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, who is popularly known as Tompolo, became a leading figure in the Niger Delta’s struggle for environmental justice and resource control. Tompolo’s journey into activism started in the early 1990s when he left school in 1993 to join the Ijaw Youth Council, a peaceful advocacy group that was created to champion the rights of the Ijaw people.

As oil exploration intensified in the Niger Delta region, leading to environmental degradation and economic neglect of several communities, Tompolo became disillusioned with the council’s ideas.

In the late 1990s, Tompolo joined the militant struggle and rose to power in the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a militant group that created to carried out attacks on oil facilities, kidnapped expatriates, and even disrupted oil production in the name of protesting the federal government’s exploitation of the region.

Soon Tompolo became one of MEND’s top commanders, where he had the opportunity to lead thousands of well-armed fighters and launch strategic operations that captured both national and international attention.

As a militant, he made numerous demands including: the Nigerian government needed to address the socio-economic marginalization of the Niger Delta, clean up oil spills, and also provide development and job opportunities for local youth.

Over the years, Tompolo was considered a fearless warrior who defended his people against systemic oppression and neglect. A lot of people in the Niger Delta region saw Tompolo as a hero, although the Nigerian government labeled him as a terrorist.

Tompolo is capable of uniting different militant groups under a common cause and massively increasing the impact of the resistance. His military era came to an end when the government initiated the Presidential Amnesty Programme in 2009, which Tompolo accepted.

The amnesty marked a turning point for him because he started to help reduce violence and integrate former militants into the mainstream. Tompolo’s militancy was instrumental in compelling the government to engage in dialogue and begin addressing the Niger Delta’s long-standing issues.

Amnesty and Government Relations

In 2009, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration, Tompolo accepted the government’s amnesty offer, leading to a cessation of hostilities. Post-amnesty, Tompolo transitioned into business and even became a significant contractor for the Nigerian government.

His company, Global West Vessel Specialists Limited, secured a multi-billion-naira contract to provide maritime security services for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Legal Challenges

Despite working with the government, Tompolo faced numerous legal issues. In January 2016, the government issued his arrest warrant on charges of theft and money laundering.

He remained out of public view for several years, reemerging in 2020. Until August 2022, when the Nigerian government renewed a lucrative contract with him to monitor pipelines in the Niger Delta region.

Spiritual Leadership

Tompolo is known as his spiritual leader because he is the chief priest of the Egbesu deity, revered by the Ijaw people as the god of war.

Over the years, Tompolo has led the Woyin Religion, an indigenous belief system of the Ijaw people, emphasizing truth, fairness, and equity.

Age

Tompolo was born on April 12, 1971. As of May 2025, he is 54 years old.

Net Worth and Influence

Currently, there’s no information about Tompolo’s net worth because he never talks about it, even though he is a public figure. According to numerous online sources, his worth is estimated to be in the billions of naira. He made his money from several sources, including his business ventures to government contracts, and more.

Aside from being one of the richest men in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole, his massive influence extends beyond his militant past, because he continues to play a major role in the socio-political landscape of the Niger Delta.

Tompolo’s journey from militancy to mainstream influence underscores the complexities of the Niger Delta’s struggles and the intricate relationship between activism, business, and politics in Nigeria.