Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, is a religious leader of the Woyin Religion, an indigenous belief system of the Ijaw people. He was a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), influenced by the Egbesu Deity, which represents truth, fairness, and equity - an alternate name for Woyin. Tompolo and his followers participated in the Niger Delta arm struggle for the emancipation of the region.
Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Oweizide Thomas Ekpemupolo April 12, 1971 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Known for | Activism for the emancipation of the Niger Delta Region Leader of Woyin Religion |
His nickname "Tompolo" was derived from his father's name, Chief Thomas Osen Ekpemupolo. Specifically, "Thomas" was shortened to "Tom" and "Ekpemupolo" was shortened to "Polo", resulting in the nickname "Tompolo".
Early life
editTompolo was born in 1971 to a royal family in Okerenkoko, the traditional Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State. Ekpemupolo had his basic education at Okepopo Primary School in Warri.[1]
Activism and militancy
editIn 1993, Tompolo dropped out of college and joined a resistance group in the Niger Delta. In 1998, Tompolo joined the newly formed Ijaw Youth Council and became a well respected member. Since there was very little progress in the Ijaw Youth Council Tompolo joined the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta. Tompolo's invitation to Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to take refuge in Delta state in 2005 helped precipitate the formation of MEND soon afterwards.[2] Ekpemupolo quickly rose to a high commander in MEND and with his vast wealth he was able to supply MEND with large amounts of weapons and new equipment. Tompolo was in command of thousands of militants and was very successful in attacking the insensitivity of the government and the Multinational oil companies to the exploitation and degradation of the peoples and environments of the Niger Delta.
For years Tompolo was a commander in various guerrilla groups in the Niger Delta[3] which were all agitating against their perceived insensitivity of the federal government and the international oil companies towards to exploitation and degradation of the Niger Delta.
Amnesty
editDuring his time as a guerrilla commander, he, under the auspices of MEND was able to drive the Nigerian government to grant amnesty to MEND members who decided to surrender. Tompolo was granted full amnesty as well as all of his men when he embraced the amnesty offer on the Federal Government of Nigeria under president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on June 27, 2009. Tompolo embraced amnesty on October 4, 2009, in order to allow for peace in the area, and for the government and oil companies to carry out development projects, and provide jobs and training.[4]
Arrest warrant
editIn January 2016, under the regime of the Muhammadu Buhari government, an arrest warrant for Tompolo was issued on charges of theft and money laundering.[5][6] Prior this, his last public appearance was in 2014 and for six years his location and whereabouts were clandestine until 2020 when he resurfaced in his Egbesu shrine.[7][8] In August 2022, Muhammadu Buhari renewed a lucrative contract to monitor the Delta region pipelines with Tompolo.[1].
Personal life
editTompolo is a traditionalist and is the chief priest of the Egbesu deity,[9][10][11] which is the god of war in the Ijaw tribe.[12]
Footnotes
edit- ^ "Tompolo: The Billionaire Militant -TheNEWS Africa". Sahara Reporters. 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
- ^ Asuni, Judith. "Understanding the Armed Groups of the Niger Delta". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "What really went wrong between Buhari, Tompolo?". Vanguard News. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
- ^ "Leading Nigeria oil rebel disarms". BBC. BBC News: Africa. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Gaffey, Conor (19 Jan 2016). "Who is Tompolo, the Niger Delta Kingpin wanted for Corruption?". Retrieved 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Tompolo spent 4 sleepless years in forest, abandoned by friends — IPDI". Vanguard News. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- ^ "Tompolo makes first public appearance after six years". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Henry, Eze Onyeka. "Nigerians React As Former Militant Leader, Tompolo Resurface After 6-Years In Hiding". Vantage News Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Egbesu Fury: Buhari gives Tompolo kiss of life". Vanguard News. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Ugwuanyi, Sylvester (2016-06-28). "I'm Chief Priest of Egbesu Shrine; return my symbol of authority - Tompolo begs Buhari". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "Missing Egbesu scepter: Why Tompolo is apprehensive". Vanguard News. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ "How Egbesu, Ijaw god propelled militants Opukeme". Vanguard News. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
References
edit- "Ijaw youths felicitate with ex-militant leader Tompolo at 47". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2020-12-27.
- "Tompolo: Soldiers desecrated my shrine… seized the god's symbol of authority". TheCable. 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- Andrew Smith On 5/29/17 at 8:17 AM EDT (2017-05-29). "Why did the U.K. allow Norway to sell former gunships to a Nigerian militant leader? | Opinion". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "Niger Delta militant, Tompolo, buys six warships -". The Eagle Online. 2014-12-13. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- "Norway regrets selling warships to ex-Niger Delta militant, Tompolo | Premium Times Nigeria". 2015-05-02. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- "Nigeria 2015: 'General' Tompolo Goes To War Again By Ola' Idowu". Sahara Reporters. 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2021-01-01.