Lawrence Anini, also known as ' the law' , was born in 1960, the same year Nigeria gained independence, to the Owuo family in Orogbo village, Orhionmwon area, about 20 miles from Benin city, the capital of Bendel, presently Edo State. The 26- year- old robber kingpin terrorized the nook and cranny of Benin city and some other neighbouring towns; he unleashed havoc on civilians, police and banks as well with his gang of five men.

Lawrence Anini started off as a taxi driver, then as a transporter for thieves and drug lords till he finally became a notorious daylight robber who sent fear down the spines of rich, middle class and poor Nigerians. Anini' s major concentration in his robbery career was robbing banks and assassinating top government officials, making sure his victims always suffer greatly.

During his trial, he allegedly accused a Deputy Superintendent of Police, George Iyamu, of masterminding the assassination of an Assistant Inspector General, Christopher Omuben, who was in charge of investigating Anini and his men. The assassination however was unsuccessful as Anini and his gang only killed Omuben' s driver, a Sargent named Albert Otue who was mistaken for Omuben.

Otue was beheaded and dumped in a shrub along the Benin- Agbor road, Lawrence Anini and his gang also killed one Mrs Remi Sobanjo and Frank Unoarumi who formerly worked with the Nigerian Observer newspaper. On the 1st of October, 1986, Anini attacked the state' s commissioner of police, Casmir Igbokwe, who was mercilessly beaten and shot several times but eventually survived the attack with several injuries.