Notorious armed robbers have unleashed terror in Nigeria, in numerous parts of Nigeria, at different times. They left a sadness in the wake of their quest for sudden riches -loss of lives, properties and pain.
This is a list of notorious armed robbers in Nigeria’s history:
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Abiodun Egunjobi (also known as Godogodo)
From the slums of Abule Egba, he became a gang leader of thieves that inflicted havoc on Lagos State and parts of Ogun where his crimes were perpetrated. The notoriety of the criminal activities of Godogodo and his gang earned him a spot on the Police Most Wanted List. He is reputed to have killed over a hundred policemen and scores of persons during the spate of his armed robbery activities. He was arrested on August 1, 2013, after evading the Police for more than a decade.
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Adegoke Shogo
A native of Offa was arrested for his involvement in the famous Offa multiple bank robbery and attack on the Police Station of April 5, 2018, that occurred in Kwara State. Seventeen persons and eight policemen were casualties of the Offa incident.
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Adewale Popoola
He was arrested in connection to the Offa robbery attack on five banks. His gang also attacked the Owode Division Police station with eight officers losing their lives in the encounter.
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Alexander Reuben
He was part of the gang of armed robbers that carried out the Offa bank robbery involving several banks, as well as the attack on the Police Station. He had been had previously been convicted and served a prison sentence for armed robbery prior to the Offa incident.
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Aminu Ibrahim
Arrested in connection to the part he played in the 2018 Offa bank robbery and police attack that left scores dead and valuables were stolen.
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Azeez Abdullahi
He is a native of Offa, Kwara state that was part of the gang of armed robbers that perpetrated the multiple bank robbery that occurred in Offa, Kwara State, that led to the death of seventeen persons and eight policemen of the Owode Division.
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Azeez Salawudeen
He was part of the gang of armed robbers that carried out the notorious Offa robbery incident that happened in April 2008. He was arrested later that year in Offa, Kwara State, in connection to the crime.
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Friday Ofege
He was part of the Anini gang that reigned terror in Benin city in 1986. Car hijacking, bank robbery, and bus robbery were part of the ills that the Anini gang unleased. They had support from some corrupt Police Officers. At the trial of Anini, the other gang was implicated and made to pay for their crimes.
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Henry Chibueze (also known as Vampire)
He was notorious for his kidnapping and armed robbery activities perpetrated in the South-eastern states and the surrounding states of the South-south. He was arrested in 2015, and confessed to several atrocities involving murder, kidnap, and armed robbery. On January 27, 2017, the day set for his trial at the Owerri High Court, his gang attempted to rescue him in the Court’s premises, but he was killed during the exchange of gunshots between security operatives and his gang.
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Inspector George Iyamu
He was a corrupt Police Officer that worked for the notorious armed robbery gang headed by Lawrence Anini. He provided the gang that terrorized the Old Bendel State, particularly Benin City with arms, intel, logistics support and protection. At the trial of Lawrence Anini, he was implicated in his support to the gang for financial returns. He was tried and subsequently executed by firing squad on March 29, 1987.
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Jimoh Isa
A native of Okene, Kogi State. He was arrested in connection with the Offa bank robbery incident that happened in April 2018.
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Kazeem Abdulrasheed
He was arrested in Offa in relation to a five-bank robbery attack that occurred on April 5, 2018. He is a native of Offa, Kwara State.
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Kayode Opadokun
After serving a prison sentence for eight months on conviction of armed robbery, he regained freedom and thereafter took part in the April 5, 2018, multiple bank robbery of Otta. He was arrested again after that incident.
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Lawrence Nomayagbon Anini
Anini was a notorious armed robber that terrorized Benin City and environs in 1986, particularly from August to December of that year. Anini’s gang comprising of Monday Osunbor who was his Deputy, Friday Ofege, Smallie, Henry Ekponwan, Philip Kingsley Eweka, and Alhaji Zegege, engaged in car hijacking, robbing buses, and banks. Anini and his gang reigned supreme with the support of corrupt Police Officers, like Inspector George Iyamu, that provided intel, arms, logistics support and protection to the gang. Following a tip-off from locals, on December 3, 1986, Anini was tracked down and apprehended at No. 26 Oyemewa street, Benin City, by Superintendent of Police Kayode Uanrero, and a 10-man Police Crack Unit, but not until he almost got his leg unhinged from bullet impact as he tried to escape. On wheelchairs, he exposed his crimes and the support he got from the Police during his trials. He implicated Inspector George Iyamu during his trial. He was sentenced to death by firing squad on March 29, 1987.
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Monday Osunbor
He was the deputy to the notorious Lawrence Anini. As part of the Anini armed robbery gang, they orchestrated bank invasion, car hijacking and highway robbery in Benin City in 1986. He has implicated the trial of Lawrence Anini and tried for his crimes. He was executed for his crime.
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Obinna Elah
He was a notorious armed robber and kidnapper that terrorized several states in the eastern part of Nigeria. He was part of the gang of Henry Chibueze, another armed robber notorious for his deadly atrocities. He and other members of the gang were apprehended after the failed attempt to rescue Henry Chibueze from Owerri High Court in January 2017.
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Prince Kingsley Eweka
He was part of the Anini gang that terrorized the area of Bendel, particularly Benin City. They engaged in bank robberies, car hijacking and got backing from corrupt police officers. With the capture of Lawrence Anini in Dec 1986 and subsequent trial, the rest of the group were rounded up and tried for their crimes.
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Jaba Kuumfa
He belonged to the criminal gang that executed the five-bank robbery attack in Offa. He was arrested by the Police in connection to the crime.
- Shina Rambo
- Oyenusi
- Henry Ekponwan
- Isiaka Busari ( also known as Might Joe)
- Smallie
- Allaji Zed Zed (also known as Zegege)
- Babatunde Folorunsho
- Obidiozor Otokoto
- Kayode Willaims
- Ogochukwu Mbisike (also known as Ogogo)
- Ifeanyi Nwakwo (also known as 2 mins)
- Adeniyi Ajayi
- Okwudi Ndiwe (also known as Derico)