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Thirty-nine years ago, precisely 1986, Mr Parry Osayande was the Commissioner of police in the old Benue state(some parts of the present day Kogi were in Benue then) when a notorious killer cum armed robber Lawrence Nomanyagbon Anini held the defunct Bendel state( now made up of Edo and Delta states) by the jugular. He and his gang of daredevil armed robbers reigned like Emperor Nero, brazenly bestriding streets and towns, especially Benin, the state capital unchallenged and leaving on their trails, brutal, bloody robbery scenes.
The Anini menace was such a national headache that even the then Military President, General Ibrahim Babaginda jokingly asked the then Inspector-General of police, Etim Inyang, “My friend, where is Anini?” (see my book confessions of notorious Arm robbers in Nigeria)
While the Anini reign of terror lasted, I held forth for the now rested National Concord newspaper in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, as its Chief Correspondent. My unique crime/ security reporting skill was not long in getting the attention of CP Osayande and we eventually forged a good working and close relationship. He was a gallant, disciplined and honest officer. He was also a thorough breed, crack Police investigator.These enchanting virtues of his endeared him to me and when he was drafted by IGP Etim Inyang to coordinate the arrest and prosecution of the notorious Anini, we further became even closer.
Two weeks befor the arrest of Anini, Mr Osayande invited me to Benin to witness the operation that would led to the capture of then Nigeria’s most wanted criminal.Osayande, himself a proud Benin son, hosted me in his family house and I was fortunate to witness the dramatic captured of Anini
After Anini’s arrest, a gallant Mobile police officer, the late Kayode Uaneroro, who was a key operational figure in the arrest and I were invited to have an exclusive interview with the number one armed robber in Nigeria at that time.While I was interviewing Anini he exhibited traits that were traceable to drugs that are higher than Indian hemp, the drugs he took that probably influenced his ruthless killing spree and vicious torture of his victims. Anini was beastily. He would kill some of his victims and drink their blood. He confessed to me that he is a big fry in the criminal underworld, that only small armed robbers smoke Indian hemp. Anini further revealed that he took higher hard drugs namely Cocain and Colorado. According to medical records, Colorado is a cover name for dangerous, addictive , intoxicating, sedative and hallucination-induced drugs used by drug addicts which are illegally produced in Colorado, a city in western United States of America and shipped across the world to interested drug barons. Today in Nigeria, the biggest consumers of Colorado are marauding terrorists. In fact, dangerous hard drugs are like fuel and oil that power terrorists’ thirst for mayhem. It is obvious that armed non- state actors immerse themselves in various dangerous hard drugs before embarking on their bloody enterprise. Colorado and other dangerous substances are readily available to other consumers of illicit drugs including students , traders , politicians and recently, fake religious leaders. These set of people consume the substances in large quantities and they influence most of their strange behaviours.It is however, noteworthy that hard drugs have ruined many of the consumers.I was recently watching Emmanuel TV owned by the late Pastor TB Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations when a young man who gave his name simply as Chidebere, a trader in Ontisha , Anambra state narrated how he travelled to the USA for greener pasture and his elder brother later urged him to return to Nigeria promising to setup a trade for him. After completing a four- year business tutelage, N10 million worth of good were allocated to him by the elder brother. Unfortunately however, after two years of thriving in the business he was introduced to drugs and he became immersed in them.Soon, his business started dwindling and eventually collapsed. According to an American frontline politician, Bob Riley, “drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope -and when we fight against them , we fight for the future”. And to an anonymous author, “Addictions are like chain around our neck ; the longer you wear it , the heavier it becomes”. Chidebere: “I was neck deep into the use of the drug known as Colorado and it ripped my life and business and caused me serious health challenges.Chidiebere’s experience speaks volume about the devastating effects and consequences of addiction to hard drugs.
Health experts list some of the unsavoury health effects of addiction to hard drugs to include insomnia, hallucination, paranoia,depression, drowsiness, lack of coordination, seizures, slurred speech, anxiety, constipation, uncontrollable hunger, hypertension, memory loss or cognitive impairment, brain damage and among others.
Back to Chidiebere, the ex drug addict: He told his listeners who were mainly members of Synagogue and Emmanuel TV viewers across the world that his situation got so worst that a time came when he could not afford even N200. He described his life as shameful amomg other derogatory descriptions he used to characterize his romance with hard drugs. According to Chidiebere, an invitation to Synagogue church solved his problems and claimed that there is a spirit behind drug addiction.Further ascribing spirituality to his battle with drug addiction, Chidiebere insisted that demons often possess the human body and when that happens, the body succumbs to the dictates of the demon leading to such negative habits as smoking , fornication , adultery , kidnapping, corruption, drug addiction etc.
From the foregoing, there is no doubt that there is a correlation between deviant behaviours and crime- kidnnaping, armed robbery, banditry, rape etc-and hard drugs. Hard drugs influence or trigger the above listed crimes and deviant behaviours and they come with terrible consequences as could be gleaned from the grim fate that met Anini and his comrades.
My candid advice to the government is that relevant enforcement agencies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA should be straightened with modern equipment and technology and training to combat the menace of hard drugs in the country.
Tinted permit: Another error (2)
The question on may lips is what is the police up to? In the US , England , United Kingdom and Canada there is no such thing as a tinted permit. And in Africa, Nigeria is the only country where tinted permit is demanded or enforced on vehicle owners.For example, ,there is no tinted permit charges in Ghana and South Africa so the question once again is, what is the police under the leadership IGP Egetokun up to? Insistence on going ahead with the tinted permit enforcement is capable of creating bad blood between the people, when the police police is suppose to be the friend of the people.Presently,the tax burden on ordinary Nigerians is rather unbearable and adding extra burden such as vehicle tinted permit can ignite unrest in the society. There is no known law in Nigeria that warrants a security agency that is mandated to provide protection for the people that also empowers it to tax the same people on vehicles they did not manufacture.
Security information on Tax Identification Number (TIN)
Last week, a tomato seller , approached one of the banks and she was informed that from January 1st 2026, “madam, you can’t operate this account again if you don’t have your Tax Identification Number” She looked confused. “Tax what? I don’t even own a company. I just sell tomatoes. Why are you dragging me into tax?”
That is exactly how millions of Nigerians will be stranded in 2026 if they don’t wake up.
Now, the information is that from next year there would be no bank account without TIN (Tax Identification Number).
No business operation without TIN.
No access to financial services without TIN.
Even your stock brokers will start requesting for TIN.
Whether you are a trader, a student, a civil servant or even a foreigner living in Nigeria, if you don’t have a Tax ID, your financial life would be affected This is not a rumor. It’s law.
You may be wondering…
Why is the government doing this?
Here are the secrets behind the new Tax Law:
1. To Catch Ghost Money: Too much untracked money is flowing in Nigeria. Government wanNits to know who is earning what.
2. To Expand Tax Net: Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world. Less than 10% of Nigerians actually pay tax. That era is ending.
3. To Track Transactions: Every account, every transfer, every business transaction will now be linked to your Tax ID.
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As your Financial Literacy Advocate, let me tell you some of the secret experts will not tell you about the new tax policy:
TIN is your new identity
Forget BVN or NIN, the government is shifting power to TIN. That’s the master key!
Banks will block you silently
Don’t expect fanfare. One day in January 2026, you’ll just open your app and see: “Service Unavailable – Provide TIN.”
It’s bnot only for companies
Many Nigerians think only registered companies need TIN. That’s a big lie. Every single individual that operates a bank account must have it.
This is about control, not just tax
The truth? It’s not only about collecting tax. It’s about building a database of Nigerians’ financial lives.
Government will now see your income, your spending, your transfers.
How to Get your Tax Identification Number (TIN) before the deadline:
This is a break it down of how it works.
For Online Registration: you can register this via Joint Tax Board(JTB) TIN registration Portal.
For In Person Registration:
Step 1: Go to any nearest FIRS office (Federal Inland Revenue Service).
Carry your NIN Slip or National ID Card along
Carry your Utility Bill (for address verification)
Carry one passport photograph
Step 2: Fill a short form and request for an Individual TIN (it’s free).
Step 3: They’ll process it and give you a TIN printout (sometimes same day, sometimes a few days).
Step 4: Take that TIN to your bank, update your account.
For business owners:
If you run a registered business or company, you also need a Business TIN (different from your personal one). Your CAC certificate will be required.
