A court in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, has convicted and sentenced three youths identified as members of a loose gang of notorious criminal elements known as Shila boys to 10 years in prison each.
The three were accused of arming themselves with cutlasses and snatching a mobile phone from a resident.
The conviction on Thursday was one of several such cases in recent weeks, signalling a resolve to bring the youths to justice and possibly stem the criminal syndicate.
In the latest case, the Chief Magistrate Court II, sitting in Yola, sentenced the three Shila boys: Sanusi Umar, 19; Mohammed Magaji, 17; and Yakubu Ibrahim, 20, all of Zango Ward in Yola North Local Government Area.
The court, presided over by Dorcas Mavah, handed them three years each without an option of a fine for conspiracy and seven years each without an option of a fine for extortion.
Prior to their arraignment, Sanusi Umar and the two others were arrested by operatives of the Doubeli Police Station in Jimeta, who established that the youths had armed themselves with cutlasses and attacked one Bello Yusuf of Anguwan Tana in Yola North LGA, extorting his Smart P-30 mobile phone valued at N42,000.
The offence took place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Kabiru Abubakar, told the court during the arraignment on Thursday that the youths were arrested following a complaint by their victim.
They were charged with criminal conspiracy and extortion.
The trio pleaded guilty after the contents of the First Information Report were interpreted to them, following which the police prosecutor applied for a summary trial.
