Shila Boys-style thief jailed 12 years in Adamawa for theft, extortion

A young but notorious thief widely known to be a member member of the infamous “Shila Boys” gang in Adamawa State, Suddais Shuaibu, popularly known as Gafiya, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison without an option of fine.

Shuaibu was convicted by Chief Magistrate Court II sitting in Yola over multiple criminal offences, including theft, criminal conspiracy, extortion and receiving stolen property.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Zainab Buba, sentenced him to two years imprisonment for theft, one year for criminal conspiracy and seven years for extortion based on the first and second First Information Reports (FIRs). The sentences were ordered to run at the same time.

He was also sentenced to an additional two years imprisonment without an option of fine over another theft charge contained in the third FIR.

The court further ordered the convict to pay N527,000 as compensation to his victims.

Shuaibu was arraigned by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police through a police prosecutor, Inspector Kabiru Abubakar.

According to the prosecution, Shuaibu broke into the residence of Fatima Magaji at Ajiya Street, Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, on June 10, 2026, where he stole an Infinix Smart 10 phone valued at N125,000, a Tecno phone worth N30,000 and an MP3 player valued at N3,000.

The prosecutor also told the court that Shuaibu and other accomplices, who are still at large, attacked Usama Suleiman of Jambutu Ward, Yola North LGA, on June 27, 2026, and dispossessed him of a Samsung Galaxy phone valued at N170,000 and a power bank worth N20,000.

He was also convicted on other counts involving theft and receiving stolen property.

The convict pleaded guilty to all charges during his arraignment.