An 18-year-old, Suddais Shuaibu, alias “Gafiya”, one of the notorious Shilla gang members who has been terrorizing residents of Jimeta-Yola, the Adamawa State capital, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the Court also ordered the convict to pay N527,000 as compensation to the victims.
He was convicted by Chief Magistrate Court II sitting in Yola on offenses bordering on theft, criminal conspiracy, extortion, and receiving stolen property.
The conviction followed his arraignment by the prosecuting Police officer, Inspector Kabiru Abubakar, on three separate charges as contained in First Information Reports (FIR) under the Adamawa State Penal Code Law, 2018.
According to SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, the Court convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment for theft, one year for criminal conspiracy, seven years for extortion and two years for theft, adding that all the sentences are to run concurrently.
“On *10th June, 2026*, the convict unlawfully broke into the residence of *Fatima Magaji* at Ajiya Street, Jimeta, Yola North LGA, and stole an *Infinix Smart 10* mobile phone valued at *₦125,000*, a *Tecno* phone valued at *₦30,000*, and an *MP3 player* valued at *₦3,000*.
“Further investigation established that on *27th June, 2026*, the convict, in company with other gang members currently at large, attacked *Usama Suleiman* of Jambutu Ward, Yola North LGA, and forcefully dispossessed him of a *Samsung Galaxy* phone valued at *₦170,000* and a *power bank* valued at *₦20,000,” the statement said.
Nguroje said the convict was identified during the incident, arrested, and subsequently confessed to the crime, implicating one Adamu Mahmud, alias “Lakulaku,”as the leader of the criminal gang.
The PPRO, added that the prosecution had established the defendant’s involvement in another case of theft and receiving stolen property.
Upon arraignment, he said, the defendant pleaded guilty to all charges, and the prosecution presented a witness whose testimony corroborated the defendant’s confession, leading to his conviction.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, CP Kabir Umar Hassan commended the dedication and professionalism of the investigators and prosecutors that resulted in the suessful conviction.
He reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that all criminal elements, particularly members of the notorious Shilla gangs, are identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
CP Hassan assured residents of the State that the ongoing crackdown on violent crimes and other criminal activities will be sustained, while urging members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information that will aid in preventing and combating crime.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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