The Benue State Police Command has arrested five Pakistani nationals in separate operations conducted in Otukpo and Ugbokolo, recovering 35 mobile phones from the suspects.
The arrests, according to the command, followed intelligence reports concerning the activities and movements of the foreigners in the two areas.
According to The Punch, the Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Aondongu, disclosed in a statement issued late Friday that three of the suspects were apprehended on August 4 at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area.
They were identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46.
Aondongu said the trio was intercepted while attempting to board a vehicle heading to Adoka village.
The suspects reportedly told the police during preliminary questioning that they had travelled to Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets. However, the police said neither cosmetics nor mobile gadgets were found in their possession, raising questions about their activities and movements.
The statement read, “During preliminary questioning, the suspects stated that they were in Otukpo for the purpose of marketing cosmetics and mobile gadgets, none of which were found in their possession. This made their explanation, activities and movements within the area suspicious, requiring more clarification.”
The PPRO added that two other Pakistani nationals were arrested in a separate operation on August 5 at a hotel in Ugbokolo.
The two suspects were identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25.
According to the police, the suspects claimed to be dealers in Android phones.
Further investigation and follow-up operations led to the recovery of 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 phone.
Aondongu said the latest recovery brought the total number of mobile phones found in connection with the arrests to 35.
“Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60 phone, bringing the total number of recovered mobile phones to 35,” the PPRO said.
The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi, where they are undergoing discreet investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding their presence and activities in Benue.
The command said it was investigating whether the possession of the phones was being used as a cover for clandestine activities in rural communities across the state.
It also noted that the suspects had limited ability to speak or understand English.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadioogbu, commended the officers involved in the operations and members of the public whose information aided the arrests.
He urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious individuals, movements and activities to the police.
Nwadioogbu assured residents that the command would continue working with relevant stakeholders and members of the public to identify potential security threats, prevent crime and protect lives and property across the state.
