The Benue State Police Command arrests five Pakistani nationals in separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo, recovering 35 mobile phones amid suspicions over their activities in the state.
Makurdi — August 7, 2026
The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals and recovered 35 mobile phones in two separate intelligence-led operations carried out in Otukpo and Ugbokolo areas of the state, according to a police statement issued Friday.
On August 4, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested three Pakistani nationals identified as Younas Mohammad, 36, Ahmad Nunil, 38, and Aslam Muhammad, 46 at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area. The suspects were intercepted as they attempted to board a vehicle bound for Adoka village.
During preliminary questioning, the men claimed they were in Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets, but police say none of those items were found in their possession, a discrepancy that raised suspicion about their activities and movements in the area.
In a separate operation the following day, August 5, two additional Pakistani nationals — Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25 — were arrested at a hotel in Ugbokolo following further credible intelligence. The pair identified themselves as Android phone dealers, and a search of their belongings turned up 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.
Continued investigation led to the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro units and one Infinix Hot 60 device, bringing the total number of phones recovered across both operations to 35.
All five suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi, where police say discreet investigations are underway to determine the true purpose of their presence and movements within the state.
Police noted that the suspects' limited grasp of English, combined with the volume of phones in their possession, has fueled suspicion that the devices may serve as a cover for other undisclosed activities in the state's rural areas.
Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus C.N. Nwadiogbu, commended the officers involved as well as members of the public whose tips contributed to the arrests, describing the operations as part of the command's broader intelligence-led policing strategy to identify potential security threats and safeguard lives and property across Benue State.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the police, adding that the public will be updated as the investigation progresses.
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