A good history lesson about Lawrence 'the Law' Anini, alias Ovbigbo, the most Notorious armed robber in Nigeria's history! Please Read for your pleasure to refreshing your memory..

How notorious robbery kingpin, Lawrence Anini terrorised Benin


Lawrence Nomanyagbon Anini, Nigeria’s acclaimed most notorious armed robber, was born sometimes in 1960. He terrorised the old Bendel State, especially its capital, Benin City in the 1980s, but in 1986, his robbery exploits reached a terrific level that it became a national issue. He operated along with his lieutenant, Monday Osunbor, and others. However, one striking feature in the Anini reign of terror was the police complicity. It was soon discovered that the Anini gang had insiders within the police hierarchy of which George Iyamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was their arrowhead.

Anini, dreadfully called ‘The Law’ or ‘Ovbigbo’, was born in a village about 20 miles from Benin City. He migrated to Benin at an early age, learned to drive and became a skilled taxi driver in a few years. He became known in Benin motor parks as a man who could control the varied competing interest among motor park touts and operators. He later resorted to criminal acts in the city and soon became a driver and transporter for gangs, criminal godfathers and thieves. Later on, he decided to create his own gang and they started out as car hijackers, bus robbers and bank thieves. Gradually, he extended his criminal acts to other towns and cities far north and east of Benin.

The complicity of the police is believed to have triggered Anini’s reign of terror in 1986. In early 1986, two members of his gang were tried and prosecuted against an earlier under-the-table ‘agreement’ with the police to destroy evidence against the gang members. The incident, and Anini’s view of police betrayal, is believed to have spurred retaliatory actions by Anini. In August, 1986, a fatal bank robbery linked to Anini was reported in which a police officer and others were killed. That same month, two officers on duty were shot at a barricade while trying to stop Anini’s car. During a span of three months, he was known to have killed nine police officers.

Anini’s exploits

In an operation in August of 1986, the Anini team struck at First Bank, Sabongida-Ora, where they carted away N2, 000. But although the amount stolen was seen as chicken feed, they left the scene with a trail of blood. Many persons were killed.

On September 6, same year, the Anini gang snatched a Peugeot 504 car from Albert Otoe, the driver of an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Christopher Omeben. In snatching the car, they killed the driver and went to hide his corpse somewhere. It was not until three months later that the skeleton of the driver was spotted 16 kilometers away from Benin, along the Benin-Agbor highway. A day after this attack, Anini, operating in a Passat car believed to have been stolen, also effected the snatching of another Peugeot 504 car near the former FEDECO office, in Benin.

Two days after, the Anini men killed two policemen in Orhiowon Local Government of the state. Still in that month, three different robbery attacks, all pointing to Anini’s involvement, took place. They include the murder of Frank Unoarumi, a former employee of the Nigerian Observer newspapers; the killing of Mrs. Remi Sobanjo, a chartered accountant, and the stealing of the Mercedes Benz car in Benin, of the Ughelli monarch, the Ovie.

Before September, 1986 drew to a close, Anini, now steaming hot and an elusive dread, struck at a gas station along Wire Road, Benin, where he stole a substantial part of the day’s sales. He shot the Station’s attendant and gleefully started spraying his booty along the road for people to pick.

The height of Anini’s exploits, however, took place on October 1, 1986, the Independence Day when the state’s Commissioner of Police, Casmir Igbokwe was ambushed by the gang in Benin, and nearly yanked off his nose in a hail of bullets. The police boss survived the attacks with serious injuries. Earlier that day also, the Anini men had gunned down a police man within the city

Also, on October 21 of same year, the Anini robbery gang terminated the life of a Benin-based medical doctor, A.O Emojeve when they gunned him down along Textile Mill Road, in Benin. Not done, Anini and gang went and robbed the Agbor branch of African Continental Bank and carted away about N46, 000. A day after the operation, Anini, The Law, turned to a ‘Father Christmas’ as he strew wads of naira notes on the ground for free pick by market men and women at a village near Benin.

Anini’s image thus loomed larger than life, dwarfing those of Ishola Oyenusi, the king of robbers in the 1970s and Youpelle Dakuro, the army deserter who masterminded the most vicious daylight robbery in Lagos in 1978, in which two policemen were killed. Anini thus spear-headed a four-month reign of terror between August and December 1986. Anini also reportedly wrote numerous letters to media houses using political tones of Robin Hood-like words, to describe his criminal acts.

My friend, where is Anini?

Worried by the seeming elusiveness of Anini and his gang members, the military President, General Ibrahim Babangida then ordered a massive manhunt for the kingpin and his fellow robbers. The police thus went after them, combing every part of Bendel State where they were reportedly operating and living. The whole nation was gripped with fear of the robbers and their daredevil exploits.

However, Police manhunt failed to stop their activities; the more they were hunted, the more intensified their activities became.

Some of the locals in the area even began to tell stories of their invincibility and for a while, it felt like they were never going to be caught.

However, at the conclusion of a meeting of the Armed Forces Ruling Council in October 1986, General Babangida turned to the Inspector- General of Police, Etim Inyang, and asked, ‘My friend, where is Anini?’.

At about this time, Nigerian newspapers and journals were also publishing various reports and editorials on the ‘Anini Challenge’, the ‘Anini Saga’, the ‘Anini Factor’, ‘Lawrence Anini – the Man, the Myth’, ‘Anini, Jack the Ripper’, and ‘Lawrence Anini: A Robin Hood in Bendel’. The Guardian asked, emphatically, in one of its reports: ‘Will they ever find Anini, “The Law”?’.

His arrest

Finally, it took the courage of Superintendent of Police, Kayode Uanreroro to bring the Anini reign of terror to an end. On December 3, 1986, Uanreroro caught Anini at No 26, Oyemwosa Street, opposite Iguodala Primary School, Benin City, in company with six women. Acting on a tip-off from the locals, the policeman went straight to the house where Anini was hiding and apprehended him with very little resistance. Uanreroro led a crack 10-man team to the house, knocked on the door of the room, and Anini himself, clad in underpants, opened the door. “Where is Anini,” the police officer quickly enquired.

Dazed as he was caught off guard and having no escape route, Anini all the same tried to be smart. “Oh, Anini is under the bed in the inner room”. As he said it, he made some moves to walk past Uanreroro and his team. In the process, he shoved and head-butted the police officer but it was an exercise in futility.

Uanreroro promptly reached for his gun, stepped hard on Anini’s right toes and shot at his left ankle. Anini surged forward but the policemen took hold of him and put him in a sitting position. They then pumped more bullets into his shot leg and almost severed the ankle from his entire leg. Already, anguished by the excruciating pains, the policemen asked him, “Are you Anini?” And he replied, “My brother, I won’t deceive you; I won’t tell you lie, I’m Anini.”

He was from there taken to the police command headquarters where the state’s Police Commissioner, Parry Osayande, was waiting. While in the police net, Anini who had poor command of English and could only communicate in pidgin, made a whole lot of revelations. He disclosed, for instance that Osunbor, who had been arrested earlier, was his deputy, saying that Osunbor actually shot and wounded the former police boss of the state, Akagbosu

Anini was shot in the leg, transferred to a military hospital, and had one of his legs amputated. That was after Monday Osunbor was also captured.

When Anini’s hideout was searched, police recovered assorted charms, including the one he usually wore around his waist during “operations”.

It was instructive that after Anini was captured and dispossessed of his charms, the man who terrorised a whole state and who was supposed to be fearless suddenly became remorseful, making confessions. This was against public expectation of a daredevil hoodlum who would remain defiant to the very end.

Revelations on Iyamu, others

Shortly after the arrest of Anini and co, the dare-devil robbers began to squeal, revealing the roles played by key police officers and men, in the aid ing and abetting of criminals in Bendel State and the entire country. Anini particularly revealed that Iyamu, who was the most senior police officer shielding the robbers, would reveal police secrets to them and then, give them logistic supports such as arms, to carry out robbery operations.

He further revealed that Iyamu, after each operation, would join them in sharing the loot. It was further exposed how Iyamu planned to kill Christopher Omeben, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Intelligence and Investigation. But Iyamu was later to be disappointed as the assailants dispatched to eliminate Omeben were only able to kill his driver, Otue, a sergeant.

Iyamu, whom the robbers fondly referred to as ‘Baba’, reportedly had choice buildings in Benin City; being how he invested the loots he obtained from men of the underworld

Trial and execution

Due to amputation of his leg, Anini was confined to a wheelchair throughout his trial. Iyamu, on his part, denied ever knowing and collaborating with Anini, but Anini The Law furiously retorted, “You are a shameless liar!” Anini had accused him before Justice James Omo-Agege in the High Court of Justice, off Sapele Road in Benin City. Of the 10 police officers Anini implicated, five were convicted. The robbery suspects, including Iyamu, were sentenced to death.

But in passing his judgement, Justice Omo-Agege remarked, “Anini will forever be remembered in the history of crime in this country, but it would be of unblessed memory. Few people if ever, would give the name to their children.” Their execution took place on March 29, 1987.

Ok!

Wow interestin!

And so will Boko Haram end, someday.

In any successful crime, police must be involved.

Interesting article. My mum told me of him but I didn't know he was this bloodthirsty. sad there are many Aninis in all corners if the country these days.

hmmn...

Can we see his photo?

History Of Lawrence Anini,a Notorious Armed Robbers In Early Eightiesm

Wtf!

dominique: Interesting article. My mum told me of him but I didn't know he was this bloodthirsty. sad there are many Aninis in all corners if the country these days.

By their confession, we shall know their age
Btw, you're older

So many Aninis now exist in the government looting our treasury. Unfortunately, these present Aninis don't share their loot to the poor.

As for the police, so no be today their criminal activities start. e don tey! Too bad they could be involved. I ain't surprised.

^ ^ dear, I'm not sure the government aninis shed blood...

The Legend of Anini.....When I was young, I heard he drove from sapele to Benin with reverse. That must have been a gross exaggeration.

ba7man: The Legend of Anini.....When I was young, I heard he drove from sapele to Benin with reverse. That must have been a gross exaggeration.

True...

Kindly move to the frontpage,we have so many moral lesson to learn from this piece.

where im pisure na?


Acidosis, how are you doing?

Am still dazed what this guy could do with an ordinary Passat....

If he had gotten his hands on a 700horse power race car.
O boy!

In 1987, I was in FORM 2 and I sincerely know the story of Anini and Shina Rambow, the two fiery international robbers Nigeria's condition bred.
What led to Anini's capture was as a nemesis of betrayal! The police insider betrayed Anini and leaked the secret of how Anini could be captured. He downloaded the whole information about Anini, how womanising he was and how he used to remove all charms when going out without operation. If not no one could capture him because he used to vanish when face with tough challenges.
Police deployed 10 female CID to the town of Benin, especially the hotel he used to patronise. That was how they could capture him. He wanted to jump from window when he was shot. On the day of execution, six Army faced him on the firing square but all their bullets were not penetrating, until he voluntarily ordered them to cut off his left toe before they could kill him. The JUJU worked for him, confirmed

berem: where im pisure na?


Acidosis, how are you doing?

I'm fine, Berem and you?

ba7man: The Legend of Anini.....When I was young, I heard he drove from sapele to Benin with reverse. That must have been a gross exaggeration.

Yeah, I heard that the distance is about the same as lagos-ibadan

Acidosis:

By their confession, we shall know their age
Btw, you're older

And you're oldest

quite detailed interesting story. Heard about him, n heard about his execution, i guess i even watched it on tv, during the time of live execution on tv.

Anini my man. A legend in his own way in benin city

dominique:

And you're oldest

Acidosis: ^ ^ dear, I'm not sure the government aninis shed blood...

i beg, they shed more blood than anini, what about road accident victims due to bad roads and remember people are dying of curable diseases everyday because of the shamble in our health sector.

Sirniyeh: In 1987, I was in FORM 2 and I sincerely know the story of Anini and Shina Rambow, the two fiery international robbers Nigeria's condition bred.
What led to Anini's capture was as a nemesis of betrayal! The police insider betrayed Anini and leaked the secret of how Anini could be captured. He downloaded the whole information about Anini, how womanising he was and how he used to remove all charms when going out without operation. If not no one could capture him because he used to vanish when face with tough challenges.
Police deployed 10 female CID to the town of Benin, especially the hotel he used to patronise. That was how they could capture him. He wanted to jump from window when he was shot. On the day of execution, six Army faced him on the firing square but all their bullets were not penetrating, until he voluntarily ordered them to cut off his left toe before they could kill him. The JUJU worked for him, confirmed

Lie! No be bullet dem use tear im leg before they arrest am?

pdp has sinced stolen more with a former anini assistant as chair and bot chair

The name Anini sounds more like Anenih....is it a coincidence?

Really nice post__I've been looking for this profile for a long time now,the movie is worth watching tho

Like the jesse brothers,billy the kid,bonnie and clyde and all the outlaws of american west that turned to legends in mordern day america.

It is not always easy to be an outlaw.It is audacious.

ba7man: The Legend of Anini.....When I was young, I heard he drove from sapele to Benin with reverse. That must have been a gross exaggeration.

Mine was to Ibadan o!
I gez ice on the cake matter!

When I saw his picture after he was caught, I was so disappointed. Looked like he was vanishing into the background in his wheelchair. A very pitiable figure indeed! He lived and died like a street dog. I think that like IBB then, he liked volks santana.

But he is better than the thieves in government today. Anini didn't hide the fact that he was an armed robber. But our pen robbers in government pretend to be protectIng the populace and at the same time stealing us blind. Nigerians got justice when Anini was killed but what happens to these current technical thieves when and if they are caught? Anini in his whole career as a professional robber did not steal 0.10% of what many of these rogues steal in one month!

The real Anini/Anenih is the Chairman of PDP's Board of Thieves(BOT)!

Journalist: 'can you vanish?
Anini:' I fit vanish na im I still dey here?'