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.

Suspected bandits have killed a vigilante leader during an attack on Gora Village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, triggering a protest that led to the temporary blockade of the Malumfashi–Katsina highway.

Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq.

According to the statement, a distress call was received at the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, reporting that armed bandits had attacked Gora Village.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised a team of operatives to the scene, where they repelled the attackers and foiled the assault. 

However, before the arrival of the security team, the bandits had fatally shot the community’s vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau.

The command said surveillance and patrols had been intensified in the area to track down the fleeing suspects.

The statement added that at about 5:00 p.m. on the same day, police received another distress call that an angry crowd had blocked a section of the Malumfashi–Katsina highway, disrupting vehicular movement.

According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer, supported by military personnel, responded to the scene and restored normalcy after dispersing the protesters and clearing the highway.

The command said no arrests had been made in connection with the incidents, adding that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing attackers and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and appealed to members of the public to channel grievances through lawful means.

Meanwhile, local sources claimed that another resident was also killed during the attack in Gidan Barau village and that the highway remained blocked for about four hours before security personnel dispersed the protesters.

The police, however, officially confirmed only the death of the vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau.

One soldier has been gunned down after troops of the Combat Team of the 8 Division repelled a terrorist ambush during a patrol in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

This was disclosed in a post on X by security expert, Zagazola Makama.

Zagazola revealed that the troops from Forward Operating Base, FOB, Raka came under attack at about 5:30 p.m. on July 14 while on patrol around Zurmuku Village.

According to him, the terrorists launched the ambush as the patrol approached the area, but the troops responded decisively and fought their way out of the attack.

He added that during the encounter, one soldier sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

He, however, later succumbed to his injuries.

Recall that on June 30, two Nigerian soldiers were killed while three others sustained injuries after troops of the Nigerian Army repelled a coordinated terrorist attack during an operation in Isa Local Government Area of the state.