Agency Reporter
Friday, 15 Apr 2011

It would have been tales of woes for members of staff and customers in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, Edo State branch of UBA Plc but for the efforts of a former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, who led about 10 riot policemen to foil an attempt by bandits to rob the bank.


Eyewitness account said the robbers stormed the bank around 9.30am; shot sporadically into the air; to scare away people and in the process seized a vehicle belonging to the bank. It was gathered that while they were trying to gain entrance into the bank, Anenih, who was said to have received a telephone call of the attack, mobilised his police escorts to join him to the scene.


An eye witness told our correspondent, “Anenih, on arrival to the scene, shot into the air, while the mobile police men and other uniformed men attached to Uromi police station, attacked the robbers, while traders at the Uromi Market took to their heels following the exchange of gun fire. One of the policemen, who was said to have been shot by the robbers, according to the eye witness is presently receiving treatment.

ndu_chucks:

Anenih should be prosecuted for endangering the lives of citizens, vigilanteism, and other assorted crimes. Does he have a license to carry a deadly weapon and shoot the same?

Kudos to the policemen who did their jobs this time around.

papadonkee:

Chei! Human beings. smh.

Do you know that he doesn't have a license to carry a firearm? Do you know that he is a retired police officer, so getting a license would not have been a problem for him? Did you read that he did not shoot at anyone, perhaps mindful of the existence of bitter lemons like yourself?

Someone will soon say "Benin-Ore road" or "600 trillion Naira" or "where e get money buy bullet-proof jeep?". All of that is for another debate, a debate I'm unwilling to engage in because I'm not Anenih's spokesman.

He heard a crime was in progress, he intervened. he didn't have to, but he did. That has to be a good thing.

You don't have to like Anenih, or what he represents, to recognise that what he did was a good, selfless thing.

HUman beings. smh.

Jakumo:

Very brave man is that governor, to step into the line of fire where AK rifles are spraying lead. That took some serious balls fer sure.

ndu_chucks:

Anenih should be prosecuted for endangering the lives of citizens, vigilanteism, and other assorted crimes. Does he have a license to carry a deadly weapon and shoot the same?

Kudos to the policemen who did their jobs this time around.

Pain:

He Is Not The Governor

Jakumo:

So much for my knowledge about Mr. Anenih. Regarding the legality of his confronting bandits with firepower, recently introduced statutory revisions do permit the existence of ARMED civilian vigilante groups throughout the Nigerian federation, so if Mr. Anenih can produce identification attesting to his membership in such a group, his joining the police in a gun battle is perfectly normal on the mean streets of today's Nigeria, for better or worse.

Civilian vigilante group members now openly now cruise Nigerian cities and towns in pickup trucks, with pump-action shotguns at the ready for high noon at the OK corral. Unlike the police who are theoretically expected to render all arrested subjects to the judicial process, vigilante groups have traditionally been permitted and expected to perform summary executions of "deserving" suspects, while uniformed cops turn a blind eye.

Dede1:

No, he should not be prosecuted because he is privileged to carry a gun. I hope you should understand the Nigeria shall become the pride of Africa as it walks into positive humanity as long as privileged few people are secured. In my book, Nigeria is one of the worst dysfunctional societies known to mankind.

Honestly as much as I am not thrilled by the bravado of Anenih because of his position in the society, I can not regard his action as vigilantism. In a good number of civilized societies, individuals, not privilege ones, are granted the permit to carry concealed weapons and allowed to fend off armed attackers in a certain situation. Brazen acts of armed rubbery are rare in such society because an innocent looking bystander could be armed to the hip.

ndu_chucks:

Which recently introduced statutory revisions are you talking about? You don't get to manufacture your own laws pal. The said provisions are none existent, prove me wrong if you can. Besides, this was o act of a vigilante group but the act of an old thug abusing his powers and breaking the law in the process.

Jakumo:

Yes sir indeed, Onyisi Chuks, you must voyage to Nigerian shores sometime.   Vigilante groups DO exist OFFICIALLY there, and they are duly licenced to carry pump-action shotguns with 12-round magazines, which have been issued in ALARMING numbers to those civilian volunteers, all of whom wear government-issue uniforms, and carry identification cards issued by state governments.   Very often convoys of those Nigerian vigilante groups converge on gunfights while legitimate policemen take flight.

When you have a moment to look up from your law-books during your next visit to Nigeria, perhaps you could flag down a pickup-truckload of those vigilante pistoleros and ask to see their paperwork.  Those brave souls are PROUD of the powers given them by the government, and will gladly show you their official permits and fully legal shooting hardware.

Beaf:

I like this Rambo version of Anenih!

ndu_chucks:

Mallam Jomogbomo, I bet you like it.     It is the typical mode of operation of you oil bunkerers, kidnappers, and terrorists of the area. I bet you didn't vote, olodo

aigboeben:

Ndu-Chucks your comments about the south-south region is one that is full of biased and unnecessary venom. take note that Edo indigenes are not oil bunkerers because the state is not even an oil rich state. How would you feel if one refer to the east ( I suppose your region) as a group of rebels? Be careful how you say things.It is one Nigeria

aigboeben:

Ndu-Chucks your comments about the south-south region is one that is full of biased and unnecessary venom. take note that Edo indigenes are not oil bunkerers because the state is not even an oil rich state. How would you feel if one refer to the east ( I suppose your region) as a group of rebels? Be careful how you say things.It is one Nigeria

ndu_chucks:

Jakimo, you talked about a recently introduced statutory revisions, and I say this is a blatant lie. Where are the recent revisions you talked about?