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nurus:
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.

wikipedia made reference to this article. Impressive.

And Linda Ikeji hasn't reported this one.

Na wa! Our bags will be too heavy to carry

Make NEPA no fall our hand o

rottennaija:
It's good to be back again after about 3 days of ban. Please,any mod that feels uneasy with my comment should stop reading them.

Back to business of the evening.

I like the part that says “ What we have done is to find a very creative way of bringing investors who will come in, work with our team here who have the skills, reactivate and upgrade facilities in these refineries’’, the minister disclosed.
According to him, the investors will also help us to provide technical support and they will be paid through the flow out of refined products over a period of time which is why we have also changed the refining model such that refineries pay for their crude so it goes into federation account.
He explained that whatever they produce is theirs and they sell to one huge customer which will be both Nigerian Petroleum Marketing Company (NPMC) and the marketers themselves and that enables them to keep the refineries going after the upgrade so that the problem we have in the past of not repairing the refineries will not reoccur."

couldn't wait to be back, could you?

seunny4lif:
Says who
FA has return leg bro
Man Utd vs West Ham ko

Only when there is a tie in the 1st leg in the course of 90mins, and only as far as QF.
Semi Finals are determined in a one-legged match, by 90Mins play, 30ET then PK.
Thats what would've happened, had Martial not scored.

That looks more like a specie of Stork, than a Vulture or Flamingo

There are still many others posing themselves as Colonels. They use this title to dupe people.

There's nothing wow here. Only the technique is admirable.
Her body is carrying the weight of the load by her posture and not her breasts. Her breast's potrusion is only aiding balance and the teeth as support.
If I was a science student I should be able to explain better.
Physics should have a name for this.

Kenyan stuff now happening in Uganda

After reading this, I felt the same way I feel after reading Fayose's comments - bitter but nothing to do.

Linda is finally becoming a Fayose in the entertainment industry.
Like PMB, Wizkid should just ignore her.

I still can't believe Linda is craving for serious attention. Because we all know Wizkid is way popular.

What do they want?

Me no know the economics involved here o. People who claim to know are only claiming to know without actually knowing because their comments are vague.

Whatever this means, I believe its a good move.
China is worlds 2nd largest economy, and any business with them is good business.

emusmith:
It boils down to specs. There is nothing absurd if a girl doesn't like you. You are simply not her spec. Chin up and look elsewhere. There are some girls that you can't date too because they don't get to you. It's nature.

This is the part I totally agree with.
Guys have specs too.
And not every guy has a partner just like there are also many single ladies.
A girl may be your spec but you may not be her spec.
So can girls not also be said to be the reason most guys are single?
It all boils down to compatibility, double coincidence of wants. This is a difficult situation.
So people often settle for near-specs or the availabilities and jump at a chance of getting their specs.

Please who is Fayose again? Where does he lives and what does he do for a living

Before I comment, how does this FTC work?

iamauxin:
This guy is a legend.... majority of you don't know that if we borrow this money today, we certainly will repay same tomorrow....thereby making the future more difficult for us. What happened to inward generalising of fund here in Nigeria?

Why can't our president and his Economic advisers( dunno if he has any) devise ways of making money that's distinct from loan

Someone will come and say it's needed to finance our "budget".... that's balderdash!
Now the question is why would someone in his right senses borrow to finance his budget... why not cut it down.
It's just like a school boy who was given two thousand naira as pocket money but while drawing up his budget for the semester, he budgets 10k..... because of the 8k he "would" borrow when he gets to the campus.
Tell me if that's intelligence or sheer stupidity.

And who says borrowing is not a way of financing a budget?
Or you think Nigeria is the only country that borrows?

See the Pastor already feeling like Mayweather. Like say na title match.

Eyaaa

So na now una know? Unfortunately I don't patronise Nigerian music. I can't dance so music only appeals to my soul. I dont find most Nigerian musics soul-appealing.

so dry and so not funny.

Nigerians! I pity thee.
What you people call bad governance is simply the direct consequences of our actions.
Greed, nepotism, sentiments, exploitation, hate, envy, jealousy, ethnocentricism, discrimination, selfishness, unfairness etc, are the major elements killing us. Without the above we can easily survive any bad government.
I hope God visits our iniquities with sorry and pain.
Clearly with don't deserve His pity.

This should be from Hollywood movie.

1. Identity 2. Hygiene. 3. Makes you look smart.

Posts like this piss me off. What exactly are you trying to prove?

Mildly hairy. As long as you dont have those manly annoying beards and moustache.
BTW I hear hairy people are more prone to body ordour

THEWRITERSMIND:
Salary is a wage given to a worker in form of money for services rendered. The word salary comes from a Latin word salsalis literary meaning sword. It came about from the practice of ancient Roman soldiers paying with sword because it is the most valuable item in that era. That was replaced with cash when money became accepted as a medium of exchange.

Salary originated from the Latin word "Salarium" not "Salsalis".

Salt was highly prized by the Romans - soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, which is how the word 'salary' originated.

Sal - from salt not sword.

Zee World too. God I hate this channel. It is watched in virtually every house, office.

Thats so kindergarten from Wizkid. I thought he was way matured than this.

9ja4live:
Untill the federal structure is redesign and true federalism is implemented in Nigeria, the central gov't will continue to be the focus of everybody and we will need strong men like Fayose to keep them on their toes. Just like they did to Jonathan by Edo,Lagos etc during that era. The centre is too attractive. We need give more burden and responsibility for development to the LG and State govt. Then you will see people focusing on the sate gov't and ensuring the dividend of democracy reaches down

Its no use going into arguments.
You and I know that Fayoses comments are political, meant to ridicule and spite the Federal Govt and not necessarily to reposition it.
It's a normal APC/PDP scenario, only Fayoses incessant comments smacks of immaturity and insensibility.

safepassage2015:
I also learnt that evil prevails in the land when good men keep quiet. Fayose has pointed out the immediate problems raving in the country presently and all PMB does is keep traveling instead of sitting down in Aso Rock and do the job he was mandated to do. It's very sad that despite all the hardship brought about by this govt that people still attack the messenger and ignore the message. I will support Fayose and other brave and bold Nigerians till PMB improves NIGERIA as he promised

I learnt too that you should first remove the speck in your own eyes to see clearly before removing the speck in another's eyes.
Fayose is also a leader, and best he has done is spew affronts at the Federal government.
The problems of Nigeria are manifestly clear to the least Nigerian that it would amount to foolishness for someone like Fayose who is himself a leader to continue singing them.
If he's wise enough he should proffer solutions and not insult a Government he's part of.