Fact, they say, is stranger than fiction. Whoever said this should have found a way to infuse the term ‘history’ within the quote. Most of these facts we often think to be bizarre, were once the reality of a people.
On Twitter this Friday, one of these bizarre realities became the subject of discussion, as Nigerians took a trip down memory lane. A time where the term ‘notorious armed robber’ must have emerged.
They took to the streets of Twitter to discuss a man who was once a terror to the Nigerian people and government. He was Lawrence Anini; the notorious criminal.
https://twitter.com/AAbiodun_/status/1278776731395129350
Born in 1960, in a small town in Benin city, Edo. Anini would grow up to become one of the most frightening figures in Nigerian history.
He began with petty crimes, before growing into more daredevil operations. His most terrifying reign seemed to have come from August 1986 to December of the same year, when he was caught.
During that time, he is said to have killed about nine policemen, carried out over a dozen robbery operations, and terrorized the entire city of Benin, as the residents there were reported to have lived in constant fear of him. Soon after he would be touted as a mythical figure, having allegedly evaded arrest for quite some time, with the use of black magic.
This trend picked people’s interest at the end, following a question Police Superintendent, Kayode Uanreroro, who was in charge of his arrest asked.
https://twitter.com/AAbiodun_/status/1278776769869422593
According to the story, on the day of Anini’s arrest, the Superintendent who was leading the operation, having caught a man in his underwear asked; “Are you Anini?” to which the suspect replied; “My brother I cannot lie, I am Anini.”
https://twitter.com/AAbiodun_/status/1278776776580304897
This was particularly interesting because some Nigerians on Twitter are beginning to fathom the possibility that the person caught was actually not Anini, but someone who was willing to take the fall.
No one knows Anini by face 🤔
What if he is not d one killed?
What if that one was his followers https://t.co/2XD0FSC254— DATA IS LIFE (@iamlilpizzy2) July 3, 2020
If he was so popular, how come the men who went to take him down still had to ask the first person they saw? They should have known that it was or wasn't the notorious criminal. If this story is 100% true, there's a chance that Anini is still alive or died without getting caught https://t.co/GNkARsfDqa
— THEE BIG DEAL (@hyrishdbigdeal) July 3, 2020
The Officer asked “where is Anini” which means they don’t know Anini… my question: what if the guy stood for Anini??? What if it was another person that was killed??
What if Anini is still alive??? …
What if…..— The Ranch Boy (@IamMumeen) July 3, 2020
Lawrence Anini , The law. You forgot to add the part were a 30K bounty (A big money then) was put on his head for anyone that catches him and Anini then increased it to 50K. The police officer that caught him then had to be investigated just for confirmation he wasn't Judas
— Guccí icecream⋆🍦 (@g4guccii) July 2, 2020
Some alluded to incompetence and corruption in the Police, dating it back to the Anini era.
Funny part be say, them no sabi the face of who dem dey find na jst name dem carry for mind… na so innocent ppl don end up for prison. Our system has been messed up a lng time ago. No wonder news go dey tell us say dem don catch the 'suspects'
— BigUncle (@n_cjay) July 3, 2020
During the reign of anini, many innocent people were arrested by the police.
— Efe Odeh (@EfeEvangelist) July 3, 2020
I like the part where General Babaginda asked the Inspector General of Police”my friend,where is Anini”he(Babaginda)knew Anini was not invincible,Anini was receiving info tips from the police,made it difficult for them to apprehend him in time.
— CrownPrince_Clouds (@demmyclouds) July 2, 2020
While this new debate may still be on, the account of Nigerians who witnessed the terror reign of Lawrence Anini in the city of Benin confirm that he wasn’t faceless as he was very popular. It is also clear that he was able to evade arrest on multiple occasions due to prompt information he got from his accomplice in the Police.
