George Oruigbi Pepple, born in 1849, reigned as King of the Kingdom of Bonny, a powerful trading state in the Niger Delta, during one of the most turbulent periods of its history.
He ascended the throne on 30 September 1866 but was deposed on 14 December 1883 amid intense political rivalries and shifting trade dynamics. His exile reflected the growing influence of both local merchant factions and the British colonial authorities in reshaping Niger Delta politics.
Following the signing of a treaty that made Bonny a British protectorate, King Pepple was restored to the throne on 22 January 1887, ruling until his death on 31 October 1888.
His reign captures the complexities of a Niger Delta kingdom caught between indigenous power struggles, missionary influence, and the encroaching weight of British imperial policy.
Photo Credit: asirimagazine
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
TUMBLR
INSTAGRAM
