LAWRENCE ANINI, Nigeria’s Most Notorious Armed Robber Part 4

LAWRENCE ANINI, Nigeria’s Most Notorious Armed Robber Part 3 Click here for it

A LITTLE ON MONDAY OSUNBOR, ANINI'S 'TWIN'

For whatever reasons, some believe Osunbor, Anini's second-in-command was even more brutal but whatever the case, the duo rained unspeakable terror on Nigerian citizens and were duly punished. Osunbor was a son of headmaster but he later dropped out from the Avboneka Grammar School when he was in Form Three or thereabout. He was the first out of 16 children and he had a bullish behaviour right from when he was little. The daredevil made attempts to escape from the Benin Military Hospital after their capture.

DEFIANT TO THE VERY LAST: Here is Monday Osunbor, Anini's second in command chained to the bed at the Benin Military Hospital.

THE CAPTURE OF ANINI

Following the 'war' that he declared on the police, Anini and his henchmen launched a series of daredevil armed robberies and attacked police stations as they rampaged the entire city. One day in September 1986, after operating with a stolen Passat TS, the most wanted man in Nigeria was spotted at the Ekiosa Market, he was identified but in the mêlée  that followed, he outsmarted those on his trail and disappeared without a trace. The police could not shoot as he mingled with the buyers and sellers.

Because of his dramatic escape, many even believed Anini used magic (some policemen even swallowed hook, line, sinker and fish the fable that Anini's body was covered head to toe with charms that made his body resistant to bullets) and some swore that Anini had a magic mirror that showed him the movements and location of the police as they hunted him but as we now know, as against the superstitious nonsense and myth around Anini, that he had highly-connected sources in the police who always gave him hints and tips. That explains why he was always a step ahead of his police foes. Anini himself made the whole court room go into fits of laughter when he declared that he had no single supernatural power to disappear that what they used to 'disappear' was the insider police information supplied to them by Iyamu (same reason why Boko Haram seems invincible and indomitable, my people say that the pest eating the vegetable lives in its roots). As at the time Anini was arrested, Iyamu had already been posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Alagbon, Lagos where he would continue his work as a top anti-crime police officer. Following Anini's confession, he was arrested on the 4th of December.

The support he received from his police collaborators and godfathers imbued him with the extraordinary confidence to go on with his despicable acts. On the 21st of October, 1986, A.O. Emojeve, a medical doctor based in Benin, was killed at his residence by Anini in one of his operations on Textile Mill Road in the city.  The IBB regime deployed all methods and tactics to capture Anini but the harder the police tried, the more elusive he became.

After his narrow escape at Ekiosa Market, one would have thought that Anini and his gang would lie low for a while but no, not the Ovbiudu of Bendel. On the 22nd of October, 1986, Anini and his gang left the city of Benin and launched a daredevil armed robbery in another town named Agbor. Upon landing in Agbor, the 'action' men launched their assault on the African Continental Bank branch in the kingdom. This was one of his most classic and dramatic robberies. Upon entering the bank, Anini first introduced himself with all majesty.

Then he ordered everyone to take their valuable cash deposits to his Santana car parked outside. After barking out the commands, he calmly strolled to a nearby bar and demanded for a chilled bottle of beer. By the time the operation ended, Anini was N40,000 richer (some accounts say N46,000). Then, Anini, a man given to illogical festivities, drove off and went to feast men and marketwomen at Oka and he spoilt them with naira notes which he sprayed as if money rained from heaven. There, he declared that the police would never win the battle against crime as long as unemployment was the order of the day. Anini was regarded as a chieftain among the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), he lamented the poor state of the economy, inflation, expensive education fees and even proferred solutions. He even slammed the Benin police stating that some of their officers must be tried for corruption. At that stage, some analysts feel Anini was simply preparing a political platform for himself. On inflation, he said:

“Tell our President, we like him but we are not happy here in BendeI. The payment for everything is too much. That is why I now divide any money I get to the people. Ask them.’’

He even listed conditions for peace to reign in the state:

‘They are to put a stop to the persecution of innocent armed robbers; a stop to police collusion with NURTW (Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers) and Ogboni cult members; non-harassment by the police of market women returning from village market; abolition of the collection of 5Ok - N5 (by Highway Patron); equal treatment for everybody; and fair treatment for all legitimate drivers by the police.’’ 

To be seen as a man fighting the cause of students, he shot a police sergeant in the leg and sent him to Akagbosu, the police commissioner with a note stating his displeasure with the violence meted out on protesting students at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State. He was gradually warming his way into the minds of the people but the police was desperate to stop him in the tracks.

For a man who terrorized an entire region of Nigeria with reckless abandon, his capture was indeed very humourous. Many would love to think that Anini was hunted down and captured by a battalion of heavily-armed soldiers and policemen but the interesting is that his end was brought about by the action of a single and extremely-determined police officer named Kayode Uanreroro, who was then a superintendent in the police force, who led a relatively small team of 10 mobile policemen (considering the fact that Anini's gang can be almost twice that on some operations), with him being the arrowhead of the whole capture and arrest operation.

THE FACE OF VALOUR: Kayode Uanreroro, spearheaded the operation that captured Anini.

On the 3rd of December, 1986, a Wednesday, around 1pm, Uanreroro traced Anini to his hideout at No. 26, Oyemwonsa Street, opposite Iguodala Primary School on the Murtala Muhammed Way in Benin City, he had got vital information from the locals (today, people are even afraid to take part in community policing because na you wey talk to police dem go first arrest). Uanreroro went back to the police command to relay the information of Anini's precise location. The police wanted to be 101% sure. Mistakes had got them nothing but bullets and ridicule in the past. Osayande (the Police Commissioner) sent a lady in disguise to ascertain and confirm Anini's location. Her response was positive.

A reinforced Uanreroro returned to the building after his 'recon' operation. As usual, Anini was 'chopping the life of his head' with six rumbustious women in the room, one of whom was named Florence that Uanreroro shot in the leg as she ran out of the house to the backyard as he entered. The house belonged to Florence's father, Jackson Aideyan. Anini had a weakness for women and apart from using them as his tools of pleasure, he also used them for his condemnable operations.

Uanreroro, described by Osayande as being 'brave and energetic' went straight to the house that contained Anini and served as his hideout around 2pm with his team surrounding the hideout. He knocked and guess who opened the door? Yes, it was Anini himself, wearing nothing but his underpants. His instincts must have told him the game was up but like a drowning man, he would still clutch at straws. With a thousand thoughts flying through Anini's mind, Uanreroro then demanded sharply without wasting time:

'Where is Anini?!'

Interestingly, Uanreroro met very little resistance from the famed king of bandits. Cornered like a terrified rabbit and sweating, Anini the Law, the Terror of Bendel and the Robber of Robbers meekly answered even as he tried to play smart:

'Anini is under the bed in the inner room. Don't let him escape. Leave me.'

But Uanreroro would not be bothered with the robber's theatrical performances. He reached for his pocket and brought out the picture of the wanted Anini. At that same time, Anini attempted a somewhat brazen move to walk past the police officer and escape (you know, like Pablo Escobar walked right past the soldiers that the President of Colombia had sent to arrest the world's most famous druglord. As if he placed everyone on a spell, Escobar walked right past all of them, at 2.am and slipped into the darkness of the night). But Anini was no Escobar. As he made his dumb move  to shove the police officer aside, he headbutted Uanreroro, who then reached for his pocket, brought out his gun and stomping very hard right on Anini's right toes, he pulled the trigger....

Some of the other mobile policemen outside rushed into the room. Anini had no gun with him. All the police cleared from the room were 16 rounds of 9mm bullets, a tiny woven pouch of charms, his gold ring, a wristwatch and uniforms of police and the soldiers, including the ceremonial versions.

SUPERSTITIOUS NONSENSE: Here are some of the charms Anini was caught with. He threw journalists into bouts of laughter when they asked him if he truly had powers of magic to disappear in an instant. Anini said: If I get am, na here I go dey?

Capturing Anini was more of a tragicomic drama. While he made a mess of himself with his thoroughly imbecilic and cowardly response, the policeman who confronted him was in no mood for any stupid stage performances, especially knowing very well how dangerous a free Anini could be. As Anini was making funny moves, Uanreroro aimed his gun and fired Anini's left leg.

His ankle was shattered. The six bullets lodged in his left leg ensured he was demobilized. As he luged forwards towards the police officer in pain, Uanreroro caught hold of Nigeria's most wanted robber and sat him down. No magic, no amulet. Anini was a human being after all, and there he was, writhing in agony like a cobra dropped in coal embers. Subdued and almost in tears, Anini was a pitiable sight, his eyes were red and the pain was unmistakable. But that was not Uanreroro's business. He aimed his gun at his ankle again and fired the same spot he shot earlier! Anini let out screams as his dangling ankle was almost falling off his leg. His right leg was already badly fractured. At that point, Uanreroro decided to play the gentleman and asked:

'Are you Anini?'

And Anini, with a fluttering heart beating like the famed drums of Benin answered:

My brother, I no go deceive you; I no go lie, I be Anini. Please, take me to the hospital.

He was then whisked off inside a police Land Rover into the waiting hands of Parry Osayande, the State Commissioner of Police at the Bendel State Police Command Headquarters (Osayande replaced the injured Akagbosu) off Sapele Road, where Osayande was with Donald Ugbuaja and Edward Irabor, both also police commissioners. But please note that all the six girls caught with him all escaped as the police focused mainly on Anini and did not want to be distracted.

SUCCESS AT LAST: Here is Parry Osayande, the Bendel State Commissioner of Police under whom Anini was finally captured.

At the police command headquarters, Anini, who was desperately interested in being taken to the hospital, was subjected to a series of questioning and through the incredible pain, he struggled to explain himself in a smattering of Pidgin English which his interviewers struggled to understand. Irabor had to ask him of his identity in Bini dialect and Anini nodded in confirmation. Then he started a barrage of confession, of their raids, of their police accomplices and of even how his deputy, Monday Osunbor had shot and injured Akagbosu (also a Bendelite but from Agenebode) who was the former police chief in the state and almost killed in the Independence Day attack.

He named George Iyamu, the police officer who supplied them with logistics, police intelligence reports and weapons (Anini claimed he collected between N6,000 and N10,000 per deal for weapons supply). He also confessed as to how Iyamu would join them after their robberies to get his own share of the loot. Anini said they called Iyamu 'Baba' and that the palatial buildings that Iyamu had all over the city were from the proceeds of their criminal activities. The nation was shocked at his revelations.

THE ENEMY WITHIN: Deputy Superintendent of Police, George Iyamu was assisting Anini and his cohorts with weapons, logistics and police intelligence, thus enriching himself in the process. He was finally executed.

At that point, he was losing so much blood that he feared for his life. He begged the police chiefs and requested that he kindly be taken to the hospital.

By the time he landed at the Benin Military Hospital on Airport Road around 3.15 pm with an escort of menacingly-armed mobile policemen, Anini was 'properly' injured and no one could say the number of bones that had been fractured in his 26-year-old body. One of his legs was speedily amputated and an emergency operation was conducted to stop the bleeding as the Governor and the police wanted him alive so he could confess properly and name his collaborators. However, at the military hospital, he was treated kindly and with a great sense of care. The Commandant of the Hospital, Major Ibrahim Musa and the Matron, Lt. Col. AK Onogu even took them (later with Osunbor) on walks round the hospital for 'tours'.

The next day, Commissioner Osayande was at the hospital to see the nation's biggest catch of the year. He asked if they have given him food. He responded in the affirmative and replied the Commissioner that he would talk but he would want that to be when he gets well enough. Osayande asked if he needed anything else, Anini asked for soft drinks and cigarette. Their conversation continued as follows, as culled from the Nigerian National Memoirs:

Osayande: I have to find out from doctor whether you can smoke. 
Anini: Eh! He allowed it. I asked him here and he said I am free to smoke, but no money to buy it.
Osayande: Do you know me?
Anini: Yes. I do but without you, I don’t think I can make a statement to anybody.
Osayande: Without me? Oh, you want me to be here. Okay, I will come. When do we come? Monday (Osunbor) is here, he was lying against you. You don’t know that.
Anini: Was he saying I am the one who killed the policemen?
Osayande: Yes.
Anini: He is the one who killed them. Has he not confessed to you that he is the one who killed them?
Osayande: Kills policemen?
Anini: Yes
Osayande: Did l say you are very humane, that you don’t kill policemen?
Anini: I have not killed a policeman before, I have not killed anybody. I only threaten people. If you like to give me, if you don’t like, okay. But once it is Monday or any other person, they are ready to shoot. But for me, I don’t shoot any person. Eh Pa, tell them to buy cigarette for me now?
Osayande kept his promise to give him anything, and ordered Uanreroro, the man who reduced the former armed robbery king to whimpering helplessness, to go and arrange for two packets of Benson and Hedges and two bottles of soft drinks to be brought to Anini. Before then, he gave him eight sticks from his own packet.

He even got a very controversial gift from the First Lady of the state, Mrs. Inienger. While he was being treated at the hospital, with his right-hand man, Osunbor, the First Lady was on a tour of the hospital and she met with the two dreaded robbery suspects. Mrs. Inienger then asked them to ask for any special thing that they want. Both of them then stated that she should help them intercede with the governor so that they would be freed. They promised to change their evil ways and even help combat crime in the state owing to their years of 'experience'. She listened to them with rapt attention, gave them gifts and then left. Whether she delivered the message to her husband, Governor Inienger, or not, Anini and his friend would soon know.

(Col. John Mark Inienger was the Governor of Bendel State from August 1985 to December 1987, IBB rewarded him with the post of a governor for his role in overthrowing Buhari. Governor Inienger later died on the 8th of February, 2002 at the age of 56. He hailed from the town of Mbaduku in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State).

The police raided their hideout and found a terrifying cache of weapons and a variety of charms and amulets, including the one that Anini was said to have worn on his waist during his numerous operations.

Anini would later confess that he and his members made good use of police insider information (as against the widespread belief of juju) but the day he was to be caught, he and his fellow partners in crime had a 'bad feeling'. On the 9th of November, 1986, policemen swooped on their hideout and made away with Osunbor and three other gang members. Osunbor was badly injured and another robber caught in the crossfire was killed. Anini was there too at the scene of combat, he was injured but again, he managed to escape. But his escape would not last. Two weeks later, on the 27th, he was also in the police net. Upon facing the journalists, Anini denied he ever killed any one, let alone a policeman. He said on his bed in the military hospital where he was being treated for his injuries:

I am Anini. I no dey kill people. I only threaten people for their money. If you like, you give me, if you no like, forget am. I no shoot people. Na only Monday Osunbor (his second-in-command) dey shoot (kill) people. 

Meanwhile, Osunbor was just a couple of hospital wardrooms away and listened as Anini talked to the reporters declaring his innocence. Osunbor, who had been silent since they caught him, could not take it anymore and he shouted:

'Anini dey lie! Na him be overall boss! Na him dey bring guns and na him too dey drive the Santana car we take dey do operation.'

Osunbor also pointedly accused Anini of orchestrating the murder of Dr. Emojeve at his residence and that he should not even start 'to dey form angel for police'. Osunbor on his own also blasted the police for their corruption and double-faced hypocrisy. At the end, Osunbor would later tell other robbers to desist because 'it is a dirty game' according to him. Osunbor said he had met Anini about four months ago at a 'smoke joint.'