Lawrence
Nomanyagbon Anini, Nigeria’s most notorious armed robber, was born sometime in
1960. He terrorised the old Bendel State, especially its capital, Benin City in
the 1980s. By 1986, his robbery exploits had reached such a terrible 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 police complicity. It was
soon discovered that the Anini gang had insiders within the Police hierarchy. George
Iyamu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was their arrowhead. The complicity of
the police is believed to have enhanced Anini’s reign of terror in 1986.
Early
that year, two members of his gang were prosecuted over 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 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.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.
Worried
by the seeming delusiveness 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; combed 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.
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. 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 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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Bright Clement. info call or whatsapp +2348166575765