The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of the Shilla Boys gang following an alleged armed robbery in Jimeta, Yola, during which three mobile phones were reportedly stolen.
The suspects, identified by the police as Bubakar Sadik Muhammed, aka Haske, of Chochi Rumde, and Hamma Jibrilla, aka Dzeco, of Kasan Shinko, were arrested after operatives attached to the Jimeta Divisional Police Headquarters responded to the incident.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, the robbery occurred at about 11pm on Thursday, August 27, 2026, around Chinko in Jimeta.
Nguroje said the suspects allegedly attacked the complainant with dangerous weapons before dispossessing him of three mobile handsets.
The incident reportedly drew the attention of residents, whose response helped trigger immediate security intervention.
Police operatives subsequently launched an intelligence-driven operation that led to the arrest of the two suspects.
Two of the three mobile phones allegedly stolen during the attack were recovered by the police. A knife was also recovered and listed among the exhibits.
The arrests come amid continuing efforts by the Adamawa State Police Command to tackle criminal gangs and improve security in major communities across the state.
The Shilla Boys, a name associated with street gangs and criminal activity in parts of Adamawa, have remained a security concern, particularly in urban communities where robbery and other forms of street crime have generated public anxiety.
The latest arrests therefore provide another test of the police command’s ability to respond quickly to reports of violent crime and use intelligence gathering to identify suspected members of criminal networks.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kabir Umar Hassan, commended the officers involved in the operation, describing their response as prompt and intelligence-driven.
The police boss also appealed to residents to strengthen cooperation with security agencies by providing timely information about suspicious persons, movements and activities.
According to the command, such information remains critical to preventing criminal attacks and tracking suspects after offences have been committed.
The police said investigation into the latest incident is continuing and that the suspects would be charged to court after investigators complete their work.
The August 27 arrest is separate from another robbery investigation previously announced by the command in Mubi.
In June, the police reported the arrest of Abdulhamid Salihu, popularly known as Baban Anty, and Bello Yahaya, also known as Baban Yambiyu, in connection with an alleged robbery at Unguwar Kara in Mubi.
Those arrests were made under Operation Sanity Mubi, a security operation aimed at tackling criminal activities in the area.
Police alleged that the suspects, alongside two other accomplices who remained at large, attacked a man identified as Mustapha Ali in the early hours of June 10, injured him and stole cash and other valuables.
Items reportedly recovered during that operation included mobile phones, jewellery, handbags, travelling bags and weapons.
However, the police have not established any connection between the Mubi suspects and the two men arrested over the latest Jimeta incident.
The distinction is important as the investigation into the August 27 robbery continues.
For residents of Jimeta and surrounding communities, the latest arrests could provide some relief following concerns over attacks involving weapons and the activities of suspected street gangs.
The police command has continued to urge members of the public not to confront suspected criminals themselves but to alert security agencies through appropriate channels.
The command also reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents across Adamawa State.
The two suspects are expected to face prosecution after the completion of investigations.
As with all criminal allegations, they remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
