The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers believed to be members of the notorious “Shilla Boys” gang, following a coordinated effort between security operatives and residents of Yola, the state capital.

The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, who said the operation was carried out through the active support of community members under the police Community Policing Initiative.

According to Nguroje, the suspects were apprehended in the early hours of January 5, 2026, after they allegedly embarked on a violent robbery operation in Nassarawo Ward, Jimeta, within Yola North Local Government Area.

“The Adamawa State Police Command, in collaboration with members of the community who keyed into the Command’s Community Policing Initiative, has arrested three suspected Shilla Boys for involvement in armed robbery, housebreaking, and theft,” the statement said.

The arrested suspects were identified as Auwal Inusa, Huzaifa Ahmed, and Lukman Abdullahi, all aged 19 and residents of Nassarawo Ward. Police said the trio allegedly armed themselves with dangerous weapons, including cutlasses, daggers, and knives, before breaking into a residential building along Nassarawo in Jimeta at about 3:00 a.m.

During the operation, the suspects reportedly robbed the occupants of their personal belongings before attempting to flee the area. However, alert members of the community raised an alarm and intercepted the gang, leading to the arrest of three suspects, while a fourth accomplice managed to escape.

Items recovered from the suspects included two mobile phones, a power bank, one cutlass, and two knives, which police said were used in carrying out the crime. The recovered exhibits have been taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Dankombo Morris, commended residents for their vigilance and swift response, describing the arrest as a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of community policing.

He urged members of the public to continue working closely with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious movements or criminal activities within their neighbourhoods, stressing that such collaboration remains critical to crime prevention and public safety.

The police spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and dismantle the gang’s network. He assured that the suspects currently in custody would be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Shilla gang has been active in Adamawa State since 2015, initially operating as a political intimidation group during the administration of former Governor Jibrilla Bindow. Over time, the group reportedly evolved into a violent criminal syndicate, expanding its activities to include armed robbery, housebreaking, and theft, thereby posing a serious threat to residents of Yola and surrounding communities.