Benue: Police arrest 5 Pakistanis, recover 35 mobile phones

The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals in separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Otukpo and Ugbokolo, recovering a total of 35 mobile phones from the suspects.

The arrests were made on August 4 and 5, 2026, following information received by police operatives concerning the activities and movements of the foreign nationals within the state.

Three of the suspects were arrested on August 4 at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area while allegedly attempting to board a vehicle heading towards Adoka village.

The suspects were identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46.

“The suspects, identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46, were intercepted while attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village”

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, preliminary questioning showed that the suspects claimed to have travelled to Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile devices.

However, police said they could not find the alleged cosmetics or mobile gadgets in their possession, raising concerns over their actual purpose for being in the area.

Aondongu said the suspects’ explanation, coupled with their movements, warranted further investigation.

“In Otukpo for the purpose of marketing cosmetics and mobile gadgets none of which were found in their possession. This made their explanation, activities and movements within the area suspicious, requiring more clarification”

In a separate operation conducted on August 5, police operatives arrested two additional Pakistani nationals at a hotel in Ugbokolo.

The two suspects were identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25.

Police said the men claimed to be dealers in Android phones, but a search of their belongings uncovered 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.

“The two suspects claimed to be dealers in Android phones. A search of their belongings led to the recovery of eleven (11) Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.”

Further operational activities and investigations subsequently led police to recover 24 additional mobile phones, bringing the total number of devices recovered from the five suspects to 35.

The additional phones comprised 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro devices and one Infinix Hot 60.

“Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional twenty-three (23) Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one (1) Infinix Hot 60 phone, bringing the total number of recovered mobile phones to thirty-five (35).”

The five suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi, where they are undergoing further interrogation as detectives work to establish the circumstances surrounding their presence and activities in Benue.

The Command said investigators were also examining their movements across the state and whether the possession of the large number of mobile phones could be linked to other activities in rural communities.

Police said the circumstances surrounding the suspects had heightened concerns about possible undisclosed activities.

“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. This is even more probable as they hardly speak or understand english”

The Police Command said the operations formed part of its intelligence-driven strategy aimed at detecting potential security threats, preventing criminal activities and safeguarding lives and property throughout Benue.

The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved in the operations and appreciated members of the public whose information contributed to the arrests.

Nwadiogbu urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to security agencies.

“The Command will continue to work with relevant stakeholders and members of the public to maintain peace and security across Benue State.

The public will be updated as the investigation progress,” the statement added.