A TALE OF TWO CROOKS

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

“Each thing that goes away returns and nothing in the end is lost. The great friend throws all things apart and brings all things together again. That is the way everything goes and turns around. That is how all living things come back after long absences, and in the whole great world all things are living things. He will return”

Ayi Kwei Armah, in Fragments


I have a confession to make right from the outset – by using the word “crook” I am exceedingly guilty of euphemism; and some might even go as far as saying I am being disingenuous. Because these days “crook” has rather weak connotations, and I do have in mind the quintessential criminals!

I am talking of dyed in the wool, ruthless, unconscionable criminals. Those who take reprehensible things like murder, mayhem, bloodshed and rape in their stride. Think of legendary crooks like America’s Al Capone, and you begin to get the picture.

Alas, it is unfortunate, but true enough that over the decades such criminals have emerged in Africa and intermittently become a law unto themselves until the powers that be - via the police services, or even the military in certain cases! - finally manage to bring them down. But whilst their “reign” of terror goes on, for many, horror, undiluted fear and sleepless nights is their lot.

But let us cut to the chase, as I want to briefly focus on two notorious criminals, one based in Nigeria and one in South Africa. In Nigeria, the name of Lawrence Anini has become synonymous with vicious gangsterism; in South Africa a few years ago a criminal named “Chicken” terrorized many and achieved a larger than life reputation of his own.

Just as in the case of Anini, incredible rumours spread all over about the exploits and devilry of “Chicken”: many believed these men were not only invincible, but could also make themselves invisible; strange or unusual events were attributed to the evil and macabre machinations of these criminals. Children were exhorted to be careful always, and many even ensured their children did not go to school whilst these criminals were on the rampage.

In the case of “Chicken” in South Africa (Free State) his notoriety and fame reached a peak when virtually everybody began to display palpable fear and churn out stories of his latest macabre feats; when “Chicken” somehow temporarily managed to escape from prison (after being arrested) his notoriety reached a crescendo!

And both Anini and “Chicken” loved publicity. Anini, it was reported, believed he was some sort of “Robin Hood” whilst jumping from one woman to another. “Chicken” also loved the fairer sex and reportedly had his way with many of them in ruthless, despicable fashion. Anini and “Chicken” loved being the centre of attention, goading the media with both criminals believed to have actually phoned media houses, introducing themselves with élan, and reiterating their invincibility. This of course precipitated panic!

Yet in the end both criminals were exposed as mere mortals when they met their ultimate waterloo; in the case of Anini sentenced to death, having had a leg amputated upon arrest (Gone was his smugness when even then President Babangida could say something like “where is Anini?”) to law enforcement officials). And many still remember Anini’s pathetic: Erie a gbon ye? In fact both Anini and “Chicken” turned out to be rather frail looking and quite attractive; with the world wondering what all the fuss was about!

But what makes a man to become a ruthless criminal? This is the province of psychiatrists and sociologists, perhaps. But some will state that in the end what we are inundated with are largely theories being churned out; as sometimes an individual will just branch out on his own into crime despite a good background and relative comforts. I know a few of these in South Africa!

It is also claimed in some circles that even if one is “destined” to be a criminal, the individual can fight the urge and take the path of the straight and narrow. Socrates (the great Greek philosopher) for example was reportedly told early in life by a fortune teller that his destiny was to be a most accomplished criminal! But yet he fought it and went down in history as a profound man of wisdom…though some would still say that he was still killed by society in the end! (forced to commit suicide via hemlock)

Law enforcement agencies are doing their best all over the world to nip a medley of proliferating crime in the bud. Their task is not helped when the likes of “super-crooks” like Anini or Chicken emerge from disparate societies and throw their societies into panic. But at least history continues to show that nobody in fact is super-human or invincible…