List of Notorious Armed Robbers in Nigeria History

Famous armed robbers have terrorised Nigeria at various periods and in various locations. In their pursuit of quick riches, they left a trail of grief that included the loss of lives, property, and suffering.

Robbery is the act of taking anything of value or attempting to take it while using force, the threat of force, or terror. Common law defines robbery as taking another person’s property with the intention of permanently depriving the individual of that property, using force or fear; in other words, it is larceny or theft carried out through an assault. Different jurisdictions may have different, exact definitions of the offense. Robbery is distinct from other types of theft (such as burglary, shoplifting, pickpocketing, or auto theft) because it is intrinsically violent (a violent crime); in jurisdictions that distinguish between the two, robbery is always punished as a felony.

This is a list of notorious armed robbers in Nigeria history:

• ABIODUN EGUNJOBI (ALSO KNOWN AS GODOGODO)

He rose from the slums of Abule Egba to become the leader of a gang of robbers that wrecked portions of Lagos State and Abule Egba. Godogodo and his gang were put on the Police Most Wanted List due to the notoriety of their criminal operations. During the wave of his armed robbery actions, he is alleged to have killed over a hundred police officers as well as other people. After eluding the police for more than ten years, he was finally apprehended on August 1, 2013.

• ADEGOKE SHOGO

For his role in the infamous Offa multiple bank heist and attack on the police station that took place in Kwara State on April 5, 2018, a native of Offa was detained. The Offa tragedy claimed the lives of seventeen people as well as eight police officers.

• ADEWALE POPOOLA

He was detained in relation to the robbery of five banks in Offa. The Owode Division Police station was also attacked by his group, and eight officers were killed in the conflict.

• ALEXANDER REUBEN

He was a member of the group of armed criminals that committed the Offa bank robbery, which involved numerous banks, and the attack on the police station. Prior to the Offa incident, he was convicted of armed robbery and had already completed a prison sentence for it.

• AMINU IBRAHIM

Arrested in relation to his involvement in the 2018 Offa bank heist and police attack that resulted in hundreds of fatalities and the theft of assets.

• AZEEZ ABDULLAHI

He is a native of Offa, Kwara State, and was a member of the armed robbery gang that carried out the multiple bank heist in Offa, Kwara State, which resulted in the deaths of seventeen people and eight Owode Division police officers.

• AZEEZ SALAWUDEEN

He was a member of the criminal crew that committed the infamous Offa robbery in April 2008. He was detained in Offa, Kwara State, later that year in relation to the crime.

• FRIDAY OFEGE

He was a member of the Anini gang, which terrorised Benin city in 1986. The Anini gang perpetrated a number of crimes, including bus robberies, bank robberies, and carjackings. Some dishonest police officers helped them out. The other gang was charged with crimes and had to pay for them at Anini’s trial.

• HENRY CHIBUEZE (ALSO KNOWN AS VAMPIRE)

He gained notoriety for the kidnapping and armed robberies he committed in the South-eastern states and their neighbouring states. When he was apprehended in 2015, he admitted to many crimes that included murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. His crew attempted to save him at the court’s grounds on January 27, 2017, the day of his trial at the Owerri High Court, but he was killed amid a gunfight between security personnel and his gang.

• INSPECTOR GEORGE IYAMU

He belonged to the notorious armed robbery group led by Lawrence Anini and was a corrupt police officer. He provided weapons, intelligence, logistical support, and protection to the gang that plagued the Old Bendel State, especially Benin City. He was charged with supporting the gang in exchange for money during Lawrence Anini’s trial. On March 29, 1987, he was tried and afterwards put to death by firing squad.

• JIMOH ISA

Okene, Kogi State is his home. In April 2018, there was a bank heist in Offa, and he was detained in relation to that event.

• KAZEEM ABDULRASHEED

In connection with a five-bank robbery assault that took place on April 5, 2018, he was detained in Offa. His hometown is Offa in Kwara State.

• KAYODE OPADOKUN

He was given an eight-month jail sentence for armed robbery, served his sentence, was released, and then took part in the Otta multiple bank robbery on April 5, 2018. He was detained once again following that incident.

• LAWRENCE NOMAYAGBON ANINI

Anini was a notorious armed robber who plagued Benin City and its surroundings in 1986, especially between the months of August and December. Anini’s gang, which included his deputy Monday Osunbor, Friday Ofege, Smallie, Henry Ekponwan, Philip Kingsley Eweka, and Alhaji Zegege, committed carjackings, bus and bank robberies, and carjackings. Anini and his gang held sway thanks to corrupt police officers like Inspector George Iyamu who gave them information, weapons, logistical assistance, and security.

• MONDAY OSUNBOR

He served as Lawrence Anini’s deputy, a controversial figure. In 1986, they planned a bank invasion, a carjacking, and a highway robbery in Benin City as members of the Anini armed robbery organisation. He was charged with crimes and tried in connection with the Lawrence Anini trial. For his crime, he was put to death.

• OBINNA ELAH

He terrorised various states in the eastern region of Nigeria as an infamous armed robber and kidnapper. He belonged to Henry Chibueze’s gang, another armed robber known for his horrific crimes. After an unsuccessful effort to free Henry Chibueze from the Owerri High Court in January 2017, he and other gang members were captured.

• PRINCE KINGSLEY EWEKA

He belonged to the Anini gang, which plagued the Bendel region, especially Benin City. They committed carjackings and bank robberies and received support from dishonest police officers. The rest of the crew was picked up and put on trial for their crimes following Lawrence Anini’s capture in December 1986 and subsequent trial.

• JABA KUUMFA

He was a member of the gang that attacked five banks in Offa with the intention of robbing them. The Police detained him in relation 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)