19/08/2026
The Rise and Fall of Godogodo, the One Eyed Bandit
For more than a decade, the name Godogodo struck fear across southwestern Nigeria. To many people, he was more than just an armed robber. He became one of the country’s most notorious criminal figures, blamed for a string of violent bank robberies, attacks on bureaux de change, highway raids, and deadly confrontations with the police. His real name was Abiodun Egunjobi, although he was far better known by his nickname, Godogodo.
Before becoming one of Nigeria’s most wanted criminals, Egunjobi reportedly lived an ordinary life. He worked as a scrap metal dealer in Gatankowa, Abule Egba, Lagos. According to police accounts, his life took a dramatic turn after he was arrested for allegedly causing civil unrest. Unable to meet his bail conditions, he remained in prison for about six years while awaiting trial. That lengthy detention became a defining moment in his life. After regaining his freedom, he abandoned his previous occupation and entered the world of organized crime, eventually forming a heavily armed robbery gang that operated across Lagos and several neighboring states.
Godogodo’s gang quickly earned a reputation for carrying out carefully planned attacks. Unlike ordinary street criminals, the group allegedly targeted commercial banks, bureaux de change, cash movement operations, and wealthy businesses. Their operations often involved military style tactics, sophisticated weapons, and coordinated escape plans. These robberies frequently ended in fierce gun battles with security agencies, leaving behind a trail of destruction, injured victims, and loss of life. As the gang’s activities intensified, Godogodo became one of the most wanted suspects in Nigeria.
One of the incidents most closely associated with Godogodo was the infamous Black Sunday robbery that occurred on 9 September 2012. The coordinated attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of two police officers and seven civilians, while many others sustained injuries. The scale of the violence shocked Lagos residents and drew nationwide attention to the growing challenge of organized armed robbery. The incident also placed enormous pressure on the Nigeria Police Force to dismantle the gang responsible for the attacks.
In response, the Lagos State Police Command launched an extensive manhunt led by senior officers, including Umar Manko, who served as the Commissioner of Police, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, then commander of the Special Anti Robbery Squad. Intelligence gathering, surveillance, and coordinated operations eventually narrowed the search to Ibadan, Oyo State, where investigators believed Godogodo had established a safe house.
On 1 August 2013, the police announced that Abiodun Egunjobi had been captured during an operation at his residence in Ibadan. His arrest marked the end of one of Nigeria’s most publicized manhunts. During his presentation before journalists, police alleged that he confessed to participating in several armed robberies and identified members of his criminal network. His capture was celebrated as a major victory in the fight against violent crime, particularly because authorities believed his gang had terrorized southwestern Nigeria for many years.
Despite the publicity surrounding his arrest, many aspects of Godogodo’s story remain unclear. Unlike some of Nigeria’s other infamous criminals, there is very little publicly available information about the final outcome of his criminal prosecution. No widely accessible court judgment or official record has clearly documented whether he was convicted, sentenced, or what eventually became of him after his arrest. This lack of publicly available information has fueled speculation and left many questions unanswered, although no verified evidence supports the various rumors that continue to circulate.
The story of Godogodo also reflects broader issues within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. His early imprisonment without bail, if accurately reported, raises questions about prolonged pretrial detention and its long term social consequences. At the same time, the violent crimes attributed to his gang illustrate the devastating impact organized armed robbery can have on ordinary citizens, businesses, and law enforcement officers. His rise from a scrap dealer to one of Nigeria’s most feared armed robbers serves as a reminder that crime is often shaped by a combination of personal choices, social conditions, weaknesses in the justice system, and the availability of organized criminal networks.
More than a decade after his arrest, the name Godogodo still occupies a place in Nigeria’s criminal history. Whether remembered as a symbol of violent crime or as a cautionary example of how lives can take destructive paths, Abiodun Egunjobi remains one of the most infamous armed robbery suspects in modern Nigerian history.
