35 phones recovered as Police arrest five Pakistanis in Benue

Henry Iyorkase, Makurdi

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

The arrests, according to the Command, followed credible intelligence concerning the activities and movements of the foreign nationals in parts of Benue State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Orchiа Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Makurdi, explaining that the operations were carried out on August 4 and 5, 2026.

According to the statement, the first operation took place on August 4 when operatives of the Command, acting on intelligence, traced three Pakistani nationals to Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area.

The suspects were subsequently intercepted while allegedly attempting to board a vehicle heading towards Adoka village.

The three men identified themselves as Younas Mohammed, 36; Ahmed Nunil, 38; and Asalm Muhammad, 46, during preliminary questioning by the police.

The PPRO said that following the intelligence received, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, immediately directed the deployment of a team of police operatives to investigate the matter.

The three suspects were arrested and brought to the Command for questioning to establish the purpose of their visit to the state and their activities within the area.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly told the police that they were in Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets.

However, the police said none of the cosmetics or mobile gadgets they allegedly claimed to be marketing was found in their possession.

The discrepancy, according to the Command, raised further questions about their activities and movements and prompted the police to commence more detailed investigations.

In a separate intelligence-led operation conducted on August 5, two other Pakistani nationals were arrested at a local hotel in Ugbokolo.

The suspects were identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25.
According to the police, the two men claimed to be dealers in Android mobile phones.

A search of their belongings reportedly led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.

The police said further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 mobile phone.

The additional recovery brought the total number of mobile phones recovered from the two suspects to 35.

The Command said the five Pakistani nationals had since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi, where discreet and comprehensive investigations were ongoing.

The investigation, according to the police, is aimed at establishing the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ presence in Benue State, their activities and movements within the state, as well as the source and intended purpose of the recovered mobile phones.

The Command further said it was investigating whether the mobile phone business claimed by some of the suspects was their actual purpose in the state.

The police expressed concern over what it described as the suspicious nature of the suspects’ movements and their inability, according to the Command, to communicate effectively in English.

The police said these factors had made it necessary to conduct further investigations before determining whether the suspects had any connection with criminal or other clandestine activities.

The Command, however, did not announce any specific criminal charge against the five suspects as investigations continue.

The arrests are part of what the Benue State Police Command described as its proactive and intelligence-led policing strategy aimed at identifying potential security threats, preventing criminal activities and protecting lives and property across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, PhD, commended the officers involved in the operations for their vigilance and professionalism.
He also praised members of the public whose timely information, according to the Command, contributed to the successful operations and arrests.

The Commissioner urged residents of Benue State to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police and other relevant security agencies.

He assured the public that the Command would continue to work with relevant stakeholders and communities to strengthen security and maintain peace across the state.

The police said members of the public would be updated on the outcome of the investigation as it progresses.