A Chief Magistrate Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced three youths identified as members of a criminal group locally known as Shila boys to 10 years in prison each for conspiracy and extortion.
The convicts were identified as Sanusi Umar, 19; Mohammed Magaji, 17; and Yakubu Ibrahim, 20, all residents of Zango Ward in Yola North Local Government Area.
Chief Magistrate Court II, presided over by Dorcas Mavah, handed down the sentences on Thursday after the three pleaded guilty to the charges against them. The court sentenced each of them to three years in prison without the option of a fine for criminal conspiracy and another seven years without the option of a fine for extortion.
The case followed their arrest by operatives of the Doubeli Police Station in Jimeta. According to the prosecution, the three youths armed themselves with cutlasses and attacked Bello Yusuf of Anguwan Tana in Yola North LGA, taking his Smart P-30 mobile phone valued at N42,000.
The offence occurred on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Police prosecutor Inspector Kabiru Abubakar told the court during their arraignment on Thursday, September 10, that the suspects were arrested after Yusuf lodged a complaint with the police. They were subsequently charged with criminal conspiracy and extortion.
The three defendants pleaded guilty after the contents of the First Information Report were interpreted to them, prompting the police prosecutor to apply for a summary trial. Their conviction is one of several cases involving suspected Shila boys brought before courts in Adamawa in recent weeks.