Operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) now has in its custody a top commander of the Niger Delta Avengers, Anthony Pepple, who is alleged to be responsible for a long list of kidnap cases in Port Harcourt and its environs. He a very educated former staff of SAIPEM, a Multinational Oil Servicing Company,

His arrest is coming weeks after the police authorities declared him wanted and launched a manhunt for him. He has already confessed that he is the man behind the murder of Soboma George, a top commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in 2010.

Popularly known as Urban Gorilla, he was declared wanted weeks ago by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris when cases of kidnap of medical practitioners especially doctors and pharmacists became rampant in the Niger Delta region.

Anthony Pepple

According to the police, his arrest led to the mopping up of most of the members of his gang among whom is Chief Aghara Lobito Emmanuel. Others are Saheed Adekunle, Hillary Wogu, Ogbungbada Chima, Lucky Gospel Marako, Dokubo Victor Ipalibo, Okwudili Pascal and Candy Ndubuisi Nwankwo.

On his activities as a memberp of the Niger Delta Avengers, Pepple said he was an important commander because he knew what it takes to blow a gas plant, pipelines and get maximum impact.

Credit: Saynaija