By Bamidele Kolawole
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The notorious robbers “Anini, Oyenusi and Osunbor” came to the fore again recently when the Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps arrested three suspected armed robbers at Ilara-Mokin on April 10, 2022.
The trio Timilehin Femi (Anini), 16, Ojo Sunday (Oyenusi), 13 and Odeyemi Ayodele (Osunbor), 20 with the nick names Anini, Oyenusi and Osunbor were smoked out of their hideouts in Akure, Ijare, Ilara and Igbara Oke by Amotekun men.
They were paraded at first at Amotekun headquarters in Akure, recently.
The Commander of the Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye said that one of the three juveniles (Oyenusi) was arrested last year, taken to rehabilitation centre and later released because of his age.
During the recent arrest, offensive weapons were recovered from them such guns, bullets along with phones and money.
The young boys during the parade had confessed to the allegations levelled against them.
Ftom their confession, it was gleaned that the mother of their colleague, Mrs. Iyabo Femi prepared charm purportedly to fortify them from arrest during their robbery escapades.
The mother was arrested too because “Oyenusi” confessed that she prepared charms to enable him to evade arrest by security agents, and added that his mother had benefitted from the proceeds of their crime.
Reacting to the allegation, the mother of the 13-year-old ‘Anini’, Mrs Iyabo Femi said her son was influenced by Ojo Sunday (Oyenusi).
“I never prepared concoction for him, I only went to Church where my pastor gave me soap, I took him to the river where I bathed him with it. This was for him to desist from his act of criminality,” she said in her defense.
For their serial involvement in robbing Point of Sales (PoS) operators in Ilara -Mokin, Ondo State, they were taken to court and remanded by the Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure.
The teenagers were remanded alongside mothers of two of them, who were alleged to have made charms to fortify them for their robbery operations and prevent their arrest.
The total defendants numbering about seven are, Ojo Sunday, 16 (Anini), Timilehin Femi, 13, (Oyenusi), Timilehin Ojo, 22, Omoniyi Ogundere 17, (Osunbor), Ayodele Odeyemi, 18, Iyabo Femi 30 and Kehinde Ayodele, 36.
They were charged to court and arraigned on thirteen counts bordering on conspiracy, burglary and stealing.
The state prosecution led by Mr Oluwasegun Akeredolu, informed the court that the defendants; Anini, Oyenusi and Osunbor, stole a mini POS and other valuable items from one Mrs Grace Falaye.
The charge read in part: “That you, Sunday Ojo, Timilehin Femi and Omoniyi Ogundere on or about April 10, 2022, at about 9:30 a.m., at llara-Mokin, a place within the criminal jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did steal a mini-POS, property of Mrs. Falaye Grace.
The prosecution further alleged that their mothers; Odeyemi Ayodele and Iyabo Sunday made charms for Ojo Sunday, Timilehin Femi, Ogundere Omoniyi, meant to protects them from arrest, detention and conviction.
Ojo Sunday’s mother, lyabo was accused of receiving the sum of N10,000.00 which was obtained by means of stealing, knowing same to have been stolen on or about April 9, 2022, at ljare.
The defendants were further alleged of breaking into the shop of Mrs. Olanireti Esho, opposite Hospital junction, llara-Mokin, with intent to commit felony.
According to the prosecution, the offences contravened Sections 516, 390 (9) 414 3 (1) 427 519 and 273 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
Based on the nature of the offence against the defendants, Akeredolu prayed for an order to remand the boys at the correctional centre, which was supported by an affidavit.
Counsel to the defendants, Benjamin Obilo opposed the application made by the prosecutor and urged the court to consider their ages.
The Chief Magistrate, Tope Aladejana, in his ruling, ordered the remand of all the defendants in Amotekun custody and adjourned the case till May 12, 2022 for hearing.
According to Mrs Iyabo Femi, mother to Anini when she was asked her position in the matter, she told the court that she did what she thought was best for her son by making efforts to stop him from stealing.
She said that she sent her son to school but he would not go to school, but said he preferred doing menial jobs.
Her words: “I informed my pastor he gave me soap to bath him, I did that and since then he did not steal.
“We were asleep around 1am when somebody knocked my door, I woke up to see men of Amotekun that came to arrest me and my son.”
She claimed that it was the community people that named her son “Anini” due to his attitude.
Kehinde Ayodele, one of the mothers claimed that she was at home when they came to arrest her, saying she did not commit any offence.
Earlier, the State prosecutor, Akeredolu had told the court that Kehinde Ayodele encouraged her son to steal and she would sell the goods stolen by her son.
Akeredolu told the court that Anini, Oyenusi and Osunbor were at first arrested last year by Amotekun men and they were released to their community leaders and they promised to monitor them including their mothers.
Chief Magistrate Aladejana showed his concern about the matter, noting that the boys were too young for the act.
He stated that he could not remand them at juvenile home while expressing worry that they could corrupt inmates there.
He ordered the prosecutor to invite all the other defendants’ parents to court by the next adjournment date, saying that court need to interrogate them.
