Police operatives in Adamawa State said on Wednesday that they have made fresh arrests of 49 gangsters identified as Shila Boys.

Shila Boys are mostly teenagers and, in a few cases, adolescents, whose stock in trade is robbing residents of their phones and other handy belongings.

Two of the arrested suspects are girls, a departure from what was long known as Shila Boys being male.

The Adamawa State Police Command, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, said recent operations by the command led to the arrest of the suspects.

SP Nguroje said that the operations at identified criminal hideouts and blackspots within the state capital, including areas around Geriyo Junction, Doubeli Junction, Jambutu Aso Rock, Behind Ramat College, and Total Flyover, all in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, led to the arrest of the 47 boys and two girls.

“The Adamawa State Police Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, assures members of the public that the command will continue to employ all necessary resources and strategies to sustain the fight against Shila gangsterism,” the police PRO stated.

Shila Boys have worsened in recent times to the point that on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, hinted at fresh measures to curb them.

The young criminals have recently been using cars to waylay bag-carrying residents, seize the bags and drive off, as against their known use of tricycles, which they operate as passenger vehicles and rob unlucky residents who enter such vehicles.

They have now also been noticed to include girls among them to deceive people into entering their vehicles since Shila Boys are not known to have girls among them.