In a striking courtroom moment in 1987, in the then Bendel, now Edo State, Monday Osunbor, was seen smiling during his trial — a chilling contrast to the gravity of the charges before him.
The young man on the left looked visibly worried, almost overwhelmed. He appeared so youthful, so innocent, yet he was deeply entangled in one of Nigeria’s most notorious criminal networks. Despite that boyish face, he was a member of Lawrence Anini’s gang and, like the others, was sentenced to death on March 29, 1987.
It’s haunting how youth and danger collided in that single frame, a reminder that crime does not always wear the face we expect.
While Anini was the daring driver and feared gang leader, Osunbor was widely regarded as the deadliest member of the group. Known for his ruthless efficiency and mastery of weapons , “the steel” he served as second-in-command and played a central role in the gang’s operations during their reign of terror in the mid-1980s.
Key Members of Lawrence Anini’s Gang:
Lawrence Nomayagbon Anini (Leader)
Monday Osunbor (Second-in-command)
Solomon Osemwenkhae
Johnbull Ahuwan
Moses Idahosa
Philip Iwebelua
Bernard Obi
Friday Ukponwan
Friday Ofege
Henry Ekponwan
Eweka
Their trial and eventual execution marked the end of a violent chapter in Nigeria’s criminal history, one that left a lasting imprint on public memory.
A photo frozen in time, but a story that still echoes decades later.
