John Togo was born and raised in the oil-rich yet impoverished Niger Delta region, where oil exploration has led to both environmental degradation and economic disparities.
[1] Togo's early experiences with the exploitation of the region by the Nigerian government and oil companies fueled his decision to take up arms in defense of his people.
[citation needed] Under Togo's command, the NDLF engaged in multiple armed confrontations with oil corporations, including Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, backed by the Nigerian military.
[3] Togo and the NDLF's activities were part of the larger insurgency in the Niger Delta, which saw numerous armed groups resisting corporate and state exploitation and fighting against the economic inequality and environmental damage caused by the oil industry.
In May 2011, the Joint Task Force launched an operation against insurgent groups in the Niger Delta, where Togo was reportedly killed in an airstrike.