Fifteen notorious criminals known locally as the “Shila Boys” have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from one to five years by Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
News About Nigeria reported that the court handed down the sentences after convicting the suspects for various offences, including extortion, receiving stolen goods, thuggery, criminal conspiracy, and causing grievous harm.
The convicted youths were tried before Magistrate Abbas Adamu, with ASP Iliya Akawu prosecuting on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
Sadam Yakubu and Umar Abubakar received five-year prison terms for receiving stolen property, though both were offered the option of fines—N120,000 for Yakubu and N150,000 for Abubakar.
Other gang members, including Aliyu Bala, John Josiah, Rabiu Adamu, Anas Adamu, Alirahaman Tasiu, and Abdulazeez Mohammed, were sentenced to between two and three years without the option of a fine, ensuring they will serve their full terms behind bars.
Four additional members—Osama Adamu, Haruna Musa, Mujahid Saidu, and Abdulrahman Usman—were sentenced to up to three years in jail but were given the option to pay fines of N150,000.
Aliyu Umar, Abdullahi Isa, and Shettima Mohammed also received two-year sentences with fines ranging from N50,000 to N200,000.
The “Shila Boys” gang, mostly consisting of teenagers and young men in their early 20s, has become a notorious presence in Adamawa State, particularly in Yola and other urban areas like Mubi and Numan.
Known for their targeted theft of GSM phones, the gang often uses small weapons like pocket knives to rob unsuspecting victims.
In a related development, the Adamawa State Police Command has debunked reports of the alleged beheading of two students from the Federal College of Education, Yola.
Commissioner of Police CP Dankwombo Morris dismissed the reports as false, warning the public against spreading fake news designed to incite unrest.
He urged social media users and bloggers to adhere to legal standards and avoid actions that could disrupt public peace.
