The Lawrence Anini Saga

By: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq
(Excerpts from the Book “Tales from Benin “,-By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

Lawrence Nomayagbon Anini, then popularly called “The Law and “Ovbigbo” was not an ordinary man .He was some thing akin to an under world enigma His name instilled fear in the minds of the Populace , but surprisingly, it instilled more fear in the mind of Security Agents at that time .

As a young boy growing up in Benin City , there were many myths about the personality of Lawrence Anini.There were those who say he could finish .There were those who say he could drive a car on reverse mode used from a distance like Benin from Sapele.Lawrence Anini’s accomplices included Monday Osunbor, Friday Ofege, Smallie, Henry Ekponwan , Alhaji Zed Zed and others .

But those days in Benin City, where you hear some one has been arrested at State CID , it was a very big deal . Everyone will be instilled with fear and trouble, as being arrested there then was akin to being taking to Alcatrax prison .It was seen as the the highest level of engagement with the State and persons often avoided the Perils of being arrested at State CID.

The rumour then was that it was a particular armed robber that caused the Anini problem.He was a very powerful armed robber who dominated the under world , but was arrested by a popular police man , who was rumoured to carry those who he killed at random in his booth .He was a very powerful police officer , who had links with the underworld.The agreement was that , that the armed robber referenced above will not be killed , but he was killed.

That was what triggered a wave of killing of police men across Benin City , in a way that made Police Men and Police Officers in Benin City then , carry their uniform in polythene bags , as wearing Police uniform during the Anini Saga was a death warrant .

From August 1986 to December,1986 , Lawrence Anini and his gang dominated crime and crminality in Bendel , Anambra and Ondo States in Nigeria .Their modus operandi was brazen , audacious and grisly.Lawrence Anini was also a “Robben Hood” .He carried out well thought out and well executed bank robberies , that went with fatal casualties, after which he shared money to market women in broad day light , in places like Oba Market and Ekiosa Market .His activities generated national traction to an extent that the Guardian Newspapers of Nigeria , then did an editorial tagged “Will they ever find Lawrence Anini?

Even the then Commissioner of Police Akagbosu was shot by Erie Street , along Sakponba Road ,Benin City and he was flown abroad for treatment.Lawrence Anini also attacked the convoy of an Assistant Inspector General of Police.The matter even led to then IGP Etim Inyang resigning as Inspector General of Police , in an altercation that took place at Dodan Barracks with then Military President -Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Then the Inspector General of Police that took over from him -IGP Ibrahim Coomasie , sent the then Commissioner of Police Parry Osayande ,an aboriginal Benin Man , who is from the Palace of the Oba of Benin , to come and end the embarrassing scenario that was pervading the era in Benin City.DIG Parry Osayande (retired), as he is now actually delivered and within weeks Lawrence Anini was in custody,with a woman playing a great role in getting him in Police Net .

The arrest of Lawrence Anini , his second in command , Monday Osunbor, The Lawrence Anini Saga

By:Douglas Ogbankwa Esq
(Excerpts from the Book “Tales from Benin “,-By Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.

Lawrence Anini, then popularly called “The Law and “Ovbigbo” was not an ordinary man .He was some thing akin to an under world enigma His name instilled fear in the minds of the Populace , but surprisingly, it instilled more fear in the mind of Security Agents at that time .

As a young boy growing up in Benin City , there were many myths about the personality of Lawrence Anini.There were those who say he could finish .There were those who say he could drive a car on reverse mode used from a distance like Benin from Sapele.Lawrence Anini’s accomplices included Monday Osunbor, Friday Ofege, Smallie, Henry Ekponwan , Alhaji Zed Zed and others .

But those days in Benin City, where you hear some one has been arrested at State CID , it was a very big deal . Everyone will be instilled with fear and trouble, as being arrested there then was akin to being taking to Alcatrax prison .It was seen as the the highest level of engagement with the State and persons often avoided the Perils of being arrested at State CID.

The rumour then was that it was a particular armed robber that caused the Anini problem.He was a very powerful armed robber who dominated the under world , but was arrested by a popular police man , who was rumoured to carry those who he killed at random in his booth .He was a very powerful police officer , who had links with the underworld.The agreement was that , that the armed robber referenced above will not be killed , but he was killed.

That was what triggered a wave of killing of police men across Benin City , in a way that made Police Men and Police Officers in Benin City then , carry their uniform in polythene bags , as wearing Police uniform during the Anini Saga was a death warrant .

From August 1986 to December,1986 , Lawrence Anini and his gang dominated crime and crminality in Bendel , Anambra and Ondo States in Nigeria .Their modus operandi was brazen , audacious and grisly.Lawrence Anini was also a “Robben Hood” .He carried out well thought out and well executed bank robberies , that went with fatal casualties, after which he shared money to market women in broad day light , in places like Oba Market and Ekiosa Market .His activities generated national traction to an extent that the Guardian Newspapers of Nigeria , then did an editorial tagged “Will they ever find Lawrence Anini?

Even the then Commissioner of Police Akagbosu was shot by Erie Street , along Sakponba Road ,Benin City and he was flown abroad for treatment.Lawrence Anini also attacked the convoy of an Assistant Inspector General of Police.The matter even led to then IGP Etim Inyang resigning as Inspector General of Police , in an altercation that took place at Dodan Barracks with then Military President -Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

Then the Inspector General of Police that took over from him -IGP Ibrahim Coomasie , sent the then Commissioner of Police Parry Osayande ,an aboriginal Benin Man , who is from the Palace of the Oba of Benin , to come and end the embarrassing scenario that was pervading the era in Benin City.DIG Parry Osayande (retired), as he is now actually delivered and within weeks Lawrence Anini was in custody,with a woman playing a great role in getting him in Police Net .

The arrest of Lawrence Anini , his second in command , Monday Osunbo and others led to a great jubilation on the Streets of Benin City .Benin City was relieved by the capture of the underworld value chain that brought the town to stand still .

The Trial of Lawrence Anini was a Judicial Soap Opera .It was in the Justice James Omo- Agege Bendel State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal.Many Lawyers avoided the case , but there were those who treaded in the road less travelled like Ademola Oshokor and Dr Osaheni Uzamere .They defended some of the Defendants with so much brilliance so much so that the Chairman.of the Panel said “No quantum of brilliance of speech will take the place evidence”.In his 33 Page Judgment, which took 80 minutes to deliver Hon Justice James Omo- Agege held thus:

Anini will forever be remembered in the history of crime in this country, but it would be of unblessed memory

At the end, they were all convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad .From the Benin Prisons , they were taken with Black Maria and on their way they sang the popular Benin Gospel Song *Ukpo Kpo lo , le la gamennn , ..”.On the 29th of March 1987, was the day they were executed.

They knew it was their last day on earth so “they gave their life to Christ”.A huge crowd gathered at the Ekenwan Barracks where they shot at shooting range by marks men of the Nigerian Army, after which their dead body was sent to medical students at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital as Cadava , to be used for experimental surgery.

It was the end of an era .The town found peace . It was a story that must be told to another generation.This is the Lawrence Anini Saga .led to a great jubilation on the Streets of Benin City .Benin City was relieved by the capture of the underworld value chain that brought the town to stand still .

The Trial of Lawrence Anini was a Judicial Soap Opera .It was in the Justice James Omo- Agege Bendel State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal.Many Lawyers avoided the case , but there were those who treaded in the road less travelled like Ademola Oshokor and Dr Osaheni Uzamere .They defended some of the Defendants with so much brilliance so much so that the Chairman.of the Panel said “No quantum of brilliance of speech will take the place evidence”.In his 33 Page Judgment, which took 80 minutes to deliver Hon Justice James Omo- Agege held thus:

Anini will forever be remembered in the history of crime in this country, but it would be of unblessed memory

At the end, they were all convicted and sentenced to death by firing squad .From the Benin Prisons , they were taken with Black Maria and on their way they sang the popular Benin Gospel Song *Ukpo Kpo lo , le la gamennn , ..”.

They knew it was their last day on earth so “they gave their life to Christ”.A huge crowd gathered at the Ekenwan Barracks where they shot at shooting range by marks men of the Nigerian Army, after which their dead body was sent to medical students at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital as Cadava , to be used for experimental surgery.

It was the end of an era .The town found peace . It was a story that must be told to another generation.This is the Lawrence Anini Saga .