Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals over suspected clandestine activities in parts of the state and recovered 35 mobile phones during separate intelligence-led operations.
Gatekeepers News reports that Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement, saying the arrests were carried out on August 4 and 5, 2026, in Otukpo and Okpokwu Local Government Areas.
Three of the suspects — Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46 — were arrested on August 4 at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo while allegedly attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.
According to the police, the suspects told investigators that they had travelled to the area to sell cosmetics and mobile gadgets. However, officers reportedly found none of the items in their possession, prompting further investigation into their activities and movements.
In a separate operation on August 5, two other Pakistani nationals, identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, were arrested at a hotel in Ugbokolo, Okpokwu LGA, following intelligence received by the command.
The two men reportedly identified themselves as Android phone dealers. A search of their belongings led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones. Further investigation resulted in the recovery of 23 additional Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60, bringing the total number of recovered devices to 35.
The five suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi for further investigation into their presence, movements and activities in the state.
The police said they were investigating whether the phones could have been used as a cover for clandestine activities in rural areas. The command also noted that the suspects had limited ability to speak or understand English, making further investigation necessary.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved in the operations and members of the public whose information contributed to the arrests. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police.
The police stressed that investigations are ongoing and that the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ activities in Benue are yet to be established.
Read TheCable’s original report
