Mighty Joe
Isiaka Busari
Born1936
Lagos, Lagos State
DiedJune 6, 1973(1973-06-06) (aged 36–37)
Cause of deathExecuted by firing squad
CitizenshipNigerian
OccupationArmed robber
Years active1971 — 1973
EmployerDr. Ishola
OpponentNigerian Government
Criminal statusExecuted
Criminal charge
PenaltyDeath
Partner(s)
Comments"May God bless everybody, both my friends and enemies. Tell my wife, my mother and my in-law to keep fit."
Details
Span of crimes
1971–1973
CountryNigeria
State(s)Lagos State
Location(s)
Date apprehended
1973

Isiaka Busari known predominantly as Mighty Joe was a Nigerian bandit. He was the sidekick to Ishola Oyenusi. After the death of Oyenusi, Mighty Joe took charge of the gang, terrorising the mostly the south western part of Nigeria. He was executed by firing squad in 1973.[1][2][3]

Early life

Mighty Joe was born in 1936 in Lagos, Lagos State into a family of seven. Due to financial constraints, Mighty Joe became a dropout from primary school. He later joined a street boxing group against the will of his parents. Due to lack of employment, Mighty Joe joined a street gang and became a political thug. He joined Dr. Ishola in armed robbery operations. After the death of Dr. Ishola, he took charge of the gang; recruiting ex-military to aid him carry out his operations. Before he was shot, he converted to Islam.[4][5]

Death

Mighty Joe was arrested on 1973 while trying to snatch ₦10 from a bar attendant called Michael Osayunana.[4] After trials, on 6 June 1973, a convoy drove him from Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison to Lagos Bar Beach where he was executed.[2][1]

Controversy

His death raised a controversy as some people thought that his execution was a set-up aided by Daily Times because of fuss between Mighty Joe and the owners of the newspaper.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Isaac Olawale Albert, ed. (11 November 1994). Urban Management and Urban Violence in Africa: Proceedings, International Symposium on Urban Management and Urban Violence in Africa. Vol. 2. Ibadan: IFRA. p. 111. ISBN 9789782015334. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  2. 1 2 3 Dachen, Isaac (4 December 2015). "Profiling Nigeria's Notorious Armed Robbers: (Isiaka Busari: Mighty Joe)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Aderinto, Saheed (2018). Guns and Society in Colonial Nigeria: Firearms, Culture, and Public Order (Illustrated ed.). Indiana University Press. p. 262. ISBN 9780253031624.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, Elizabeth Ofosuah (17 January 2019). "Mighty Joe, the notorious robber who terrified Nigeria until he was executed in 1973". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  5. ↑ Hanafi, Afeez (3 April 2022). "From Anini To Evans: Top 10 Criminals That Shook Nigeria In Five Decades". Daily Trust. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
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