In the early 1970s, Nigeria witnessed the dramatic downfall of one of its most notorious criminals, Ishola Oyenusi. Widely reported in the press and remembered in public memory as “Doctor Rob and Kill,” Oyenusi symbolised the new face of armed robbery in post-independence Nigeria. His capture and public execution by firing squad in 1971 shocked the nation, but it did not end the phenomenon. Instead, it marked a turning point in a story that stretches back centuries, a history of banditry and robbery that has continually adapted to Nigeria’s shifting political and economic landscapes.
The persistence of armed robbery in Nigeria is not simply about violent individuals. It is rooted in structural inequality, political instability, economic disruptions, and weak governance. From highway bandits who preyed on caravans in pre-colonial times to today’s cyber-linked gangs, robbery has proven highly adaptable, reshaping itself in response to changing social and political conditions.
Banditry in Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Before European colonisation, the regions that became Nigeria already experienced organised banditry. Kingdoms such as Oyo, Benin, and the Hausa city-states struggled to protect merchant caravans moving along regional and trans-Saharan trade routes.
The lucrative exchange of salt, gold, kola, and slaves was particularly vulnerable. Bandits often included displaced warriors from defeated armies or men excluded from communal structures. Geography shaped tactics: dense forests in the south enabled ambushes, while the open northern savannah and deserts offered escape routes.
Some communities occasionally offered shelter to these groups, especially when they were seen as challengers to oppressive rulers. However, in many cases, traditional leaders and market associations sought to suppress banditry through militias and local courts. These early dynamics established enduring patterns: the targeting of wealth in transit, reliance on marginal recruits, and the exploitation of weak state control in border or peripheral areas.
Colonial Disruption and Criminal Adaptation
The British conquest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries disrupted traditional structures of governance and economy. Indigenous rulers lost authority, while colonial policies redirected economic life toward cash crops, taxation, and mining. These changes created displacement and resentment.
Criminals adapted by targeting colonial infrastructure, railway depots, tax offices, and trading posts. The colonial justice system, marked by racial bias and harsh penalties, further alienated many Nigerians. For some, robbing colonial installations was framed less as crime and more as resistance.
Crime during this period often exploited social divisions deepened by colonial rule. Ethnic networks sometimes shielded offenders, and resentment against economic inequalities made recruitment easier.
Independence, Oil Boom, and Expanding Crime
Nigeria’s independence in 1960 brought rapid social change but also instability. The civil war (1967–70) and subsequent military coups weakened law enforcement capacity. Urbanisation swelled Nigeria’s cities, generating unemployment and deepening inequality.
The 1970s oil boom intensified these problems. Oil revenues enriched political elites and fuelled corruption, while many Nigerians saw little benefit. Armed robbery flourished as disillusioned young men turned to crime in the absence of opportunity.
This period produced figures like Ishola Oyenusi, executed in 1971, whose public notoriety stemmed from daring robberies of cars and banks. His rise and fall signalled a new era of violent urban crime. Later, in the mid-1980s, Lawrence Anini and his gang terrorised Benin City and beyond, benefiting from links to corrupt elements in the police. These cases revealed the growing sophistication of gangs and the erosion of public trust in law enforcement.
READ MORE: Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Economic Crisis and Structural Adjustment (1980s–1990s)
The economic downturn of the 1980s, worsened by IMF-imposed Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs), devastated livelihoods. Retrenchment of public workers, collapsing industries, and soaring unemployment left many with few survival options.
Armed robbery escalated sharply. Heavily armed gangs targeted highways, banks, and homes. The spread of small arms, partly linked to West African conflicts, made robberies increasingly violent.
Military governments responded with harsh “Operation Fire for Fire” crackdowns, which often involved extrajudicial killings. While these operations eliminated some criminals, they did little to dismantle networks, and abuses by security forces deepened public mistrust.
Democracy and Contemporary Armed Robbery (1999–Present)
The return to democracy in 1999 revived hopes for stability but coincided with evolving forms of robbery. Globalisation, new technologies, and persistent inequality shaped modern criminal trends.
Urban gangs targeted banks, cash-in-transit vehicles, and highways, while rural areas faced intensified attacks on traders and transporters. In the Niger Delta, robberies of oil facilities and piracy often overlapped with political militancy.
In the digital era, robbery has intersected with cybercrime in some cases, for example, ATM raids or armed attacks supporting online fraud rings. However, most cybercrime operates independently of physical violence, making the overlap significant but not universal.
In northern Nigeria, the rise of rural banditry since the 2010s has revived old patterns of raiding and plunder, showing again how robbery adapts to weak governance and insecurity.
Impact of Armed Robbery
Economic Costs
Robbery imposes vast costs: direct financial losses, inflated transport expenses, higher banking fees, and reduced investor confidence. Businesses and banks spend heavily on private security, costs that ultimately fall on citizens.
Social and Psychological Effects
Fear of robbery reshapes behaviour. Families avoid night travel, businesses shorten hours, and victims suffer long-term trauma. Women and children are disproportionately affected, with restricted mobility limiting access to education and healthcare.
Institutional Strain
Corruption within police ranks, including proven collusion with robbers in some cases, has weakened public trust. This has encouraged reliance on vigilantes and private security, undermining the legitimacy of state institutions.
Why Armed Robbery Persists
- Structural Inequality: Deep income gaps create resentment and a steady pool of recruits.
- Weak Governance: Inconsistent law enforcement, porous borders, and corruption enable criminals.
- Cultural Ambiguity: Some notorious robbers are mythologised in popular culture, complicating community attitudes.
- Technological Adaptation: From caravan ambushes to cyber-assisted theft, robbery evolves with economic and technological change.
Conclusion
Armed robbery in Nigeria is not an episodic problem but a deeply rooted historical phenomenon. From caravan raids in the pre-colonial era to the hybrid forms of the 21st century, robbery has thrived on inequality, weak governance, and the adaptability of criminal groups.
Tackling this problem requires more than policing. It demands structural reforms reducing poverty, creating jobs, strengthening institutions, and rebuilding trust between citizens and the state. Without addressing these foundations, robbery will continue to evolve, undermining Nigeria’s social fabric and democratic future.
Author’s Note
This study has traced the history of armed robbery in Nigeria, correcting myths while highlighting verifiable facts. By situating robbery within long-standing patterns of inequality, political instability, and weak institutions, it shows that the phenomenon cannot be understood or solved through security measures alone. The persistence of robbery is a mirror of Nigeria’s broader social and economic challenges.
References
- Human Rights Watch. Criminal Violence and Insecurity in Nigeria. New York: HRW, 2012.
- Falola, Toyin, and Matthew Heaton. A History of Nigeria. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.
- Alemika, Etannibi. “Criminal Victimisation and Fear of Crime in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria.” CLEEN Foundation Monograph Series, 2004.
- New Nigerian Newspaper. “Oyenusi and Gang Executed.” April 1971
