The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals following intelligence-led operations in rural areas of Otukpo and Okpokwu local government areas. This raises questions about the purpose and nature of their presence in the state.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Peter Aondongu confirmed the arrests in a statement on Saturday. He said the operations took place on August 4 and 5, 2026, following credible intelligence received by the command regarding the suspects’ movements and activities in the area.
Three of the suspects, identified as Younas Mohammad (36), Ahmad Nunil (38), and Aslam Muhammad (46), were arrested at Adoka motor park in Otukpo LGA. This happened while all three were attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village. During preliminary questioning, they claimed to be in the area to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets. No such items were found on them.
The following day, two more Pakistani nationals, Juma Sharif (30) and Muhammed Sharif (25), were arrested at a local hotel in Ugbokolo community, Okpokwu LGA. This followed a separate intelligence tip. They told officers they were dealers in Android phones. A search of their belongings led to the recovery of eleven Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.
Further Investigations
Further investigation and operational follow-up uncovered 23 additional Tecno Camon 50 Pro devices and one Infinix Hot 60. This brings the total number of phones recovered from all five suspects to 35.
All five have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi for further investigation. The police spokesman noted that investigators are exploring the possibility that the phones were being used as a decoy to mask other activities in rural communities.
He also noted that the suspects had significant difficulty speaking or understanding English, which complicated initial questioning.
The State Commissioner of Police commended officers and members of the public whose tip-offs contributed to the arrests. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons and movements to the nearest police station without delay.
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