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The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals and recovered 35 mobile phones in separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo areas of the state.
Command spokesman, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested three Pakistanis on August 4, 2026, at Adoka Motor Park, Otukpo Local Government Area.
The suspects were identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46.
The police said they were intercepted while attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.
“During preliminary questioning, the suspects stated that they were in Otukpo for the purpose of marketing cosmetics and mobile gadgets none of which were found in their possession,” the police said.
The command noted that their explanation, activities and movements within the area were suspicious, “requiring more clarification.”
In a separate operation on August 5, 2026, two other Pakistanis, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, were arrested at a local hotel in Ugbokolo following credible intelligence.
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The two claimed to be dealers in Android phones and a search of their belongings led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.
Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 phone, bringing the total number of recovered mobile phones to 35.
The police said the five suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, where “discreet and comprehensive investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their presence, activities and movements within the state.”
The police said it is “strongly suspected that the possession of those mobile phones is a decoy for their clandestine activities in the rural areas of the state,” adding that this is “even more probable as they hardly speak or understand English.”
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved and members of the public whose information led to the arrests.
He urged residents to “remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the police.”
The command said the operations form part of its proactive, intelligence-led policing strategy aimed at identifying potential security threats and safeguarding lives and property across the state.
The police added that it would continue to work with stakeholders and that the public would be updated as the investigation progresses.
