The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals in separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo areas of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, August 7, 2026.
According to the statement, 35 mobile phones were recovered from the suspects during the operations.
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 Local Government Area while allegedly attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.
The suspects reportedly told the police that they were in Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets. However, the police said none of the items was found in their possession, raising concerns about their activities and movements in the area.
In a separate operation conducted on August 5, police arrested two other Pakistani nationals, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, at a hotel in Ugbokolo following credible intelligence.
The two men reportedly claimed to be dealers in Android phones. 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 mobile phones to 35.
The command said the five suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi, where discreet and comprehensive investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their presence and activities in the state.
The police said they suspect that the phones may have been used as a decoy for alleged clandestine activities in rural areas of Benue, adding that the suspects had limited ability to speak or understand English.
The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadioogbu, 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 promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the police.
The command assured the public that it would continue to employ intelligence-led policing and work with relevant stakeholders to prevent criminal activities and safeguard lives and property across the state.
