Amidst the growing presence of Shila gangsters in Yola, Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has issued a stern warning to parents, urging them to refrain from shielding their children who are affiliated with the gang from facing legal consequences.
Law enforcement officers have ramped up efforts against the gang, resulting in the arrest of at least 30 individuals between January and April.
Despite these measures, reports indicate that the gang members persist in harassing, attacking, and robbing citizens.
In a recent incident, 19-year-old Usman Muhammed was apprehended by the police in connection with an armed robbery allegedly orchestrated by the radical Shila group. The suspect and an accomplice, who is currently at large, reportedly wielded sharp cutlasses to perpetrate a robbery against a 22-year-old woman named Loya Samson.
Addressing the escalating situation at a press conference in Yola on Tuesday, Governor Fintiri, represented by Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta, implored parents to dissuade their children from engaging in criminal activities associated with the notorious Shila boys.
Farauta emphasized the state’s awareness of the concerning surge in criminal activities perpetrated by the Shila boys, targeting law-abiding citizens in the Yola metropolis.
Farauta cautioned, “We are warning parents across the state to guide their children and prevent them from participating in actions that could jeopardize their lives. The governor has invested in skill acquisition centers with the objective of empowering our youth to mitigate youth restiveness.”
