Benue Police Nab 5 Pakistanis, Recover 35 Phones

​MAKURDI — Security agencies in Benue State have taken five Pakistani nationals into custody following a series of intelligence-led operations in the Otukpo and Ugbokolo axes, culminating in the recovery of thirty-five mobile phones under questionable circumstances.

​The arrests, executed between August 4 and August 5, 2026, underscore heightened vigilance by security operatives tracking clandestine movements in rural communities.

​According to official police reports released by the Benue State Police Command, the first phase of the operation unfolded on August 4 at the Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area. Operatives intercepted three foreign nationals attempting to board a transport vehicle heading toward Adoka village.

​The suspects were identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46. Under preliminary interrogation, the trio claimed they traveled to the region to market cosmetics and mobile accessories. However, law enforcement authorities noted that a thorough search yielded none of the merchandise they claimed to be selling, rendering their presence and movements highly suspicious.

​A secondary operation conducted the following day, August 5, led to the apprehension of two additional Pakistani nationals—Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25—at a local hospitality facility in Ugbokolo.

​While these two suspects maintained they were legitimate dealers in Android devices, an initial search of their quarters uncovered eleven Tecno Camon 50 Pro units. Subsequent police follow-ups and deeper investigations yielded an additional twenty-three Tecno Camon 50 Pro devices and one Infinix Hot 60 device, bringing the cumulative total of recovered hardware to thirty-five units.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Investigators at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi, where the case has been reassigned for comprehensive profiling, noted that the language barrier—compounded by the suspects’ inability to speak or comprehend English—alongside the lack of proper commercial inventory, points toward possible clandestine operations rather than ordinary trade. Authorities suspect the bulk collection of mobile devices may serve as a decoy or logistical tool for unlawful networks operating in remote settlements.

​Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police for the Benue State Command, CP Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu, lauded the vigilance of the operating units and the local informants whose timely intelligence facilitated the breakthrough. The Command has reiterated its commitment to proactive, intelligence-driven policing, urging residents across the state’s rural and urban sectors to maintain high alertness and report any anomalous activities to the nearest security formation.