Lawrence Anini AKA The Law
Lawrence Anini was a menace in the 80s. Popularly called Anini unleased deadly attacks in the old Bendel State, now Edo and Delta states. He was arrested on December 3, 1986, in the company of six women by Kayode Uanreroro, a retired Superintendent of Police. Attending trials in a wheelchair due to being an amputee, Anini was eventually sentenced to death by Justice James Omo-Agege of the Benin High Court and executed on March 29, 1987
Ishola Oyenusi
Ishola Oyenusi, also called ‘Doctor’ Oyenusi was a robbery kingpin who wreaked havoc in the 70s in the western part of the country using physical and diabolical weapons. A cold-blooded armed robber, Oyenusi robbed banks and people in both daylight and night and was said to kill his victims afterward which earned him the name “Doctor rob and kill.” Oyenusi’s last robbery was at the WAHUM factory in Ikeja in March 1971. He and his gang members stole £28,000 and killed a police officer in the process. He was eventually arrested in Ibadan by a team of detectives including Retired Police inspector Joseph Itoto Igodo on May 7, 1971. On September 8, 1971, Oyenusi and his gang members were executed at the famous Bar Beach.
Mighty Joe
Born Isiaka Busari, Mighty Joe became the leader after his boss Oyenusi was executed. Some of the men in his camp included ex-soldiers who were demobilized. Mighty Joe and his gang terrorized the South West robbing and killing as they wished. In 1973, his reign of terror came to an end after he was arrested for robbing a hotel bartender by the name Micheal Osayunana of N10 Naira. He was tried and sentenced to death by a firing squad. Reports also had it that while in prison, awaiting his execution, Mighty Joe converted to Islam
Abubakar Shekau
Shekau led the Jama’atu Ahlis-Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram following the death of its leader Mohammed Yusuf IN 2009. Boko haram terrorized the North East for years. In 2009, it was believed Shekau had been killed only to reappear in viral videos, where he was seen making more threats and boasting of his many crimes against the country.
Boko Haram raided multiple communities and abducted residents, including children. The abduction of Chibok girls in 2014, to date, is one of the atrocities committed by this sect, that not many will forget in years to come.
On May 21, 2021, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Shekau had died. He reportedly killed himself by detonating a suicide vest following his running battle with the leadership of a splinter terrorist group loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levent (ISIS).
Gana
Born Terwase Akwaza, Gana was the leader of a militia group in Benue State who plowed several communities for over a decade. Gana reportedly wreaked havoc on these communities between 2015 and 2020. From kidnapping, extortion, alleged murders, and terrorism among other crimes, Gana was feared by millions. The government placed a N50 million bounty on him. Gana in 2020, turned himself in for amnesty and was allegedly murdered by the Nigerian Army.