Police Arrest Five Pakistanis In Benue, Recover 35 Phones

Police in Benue have arrested five Pakistani nationals after separate operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo, with 35 mobile phones recovered during the checks.

The Benue State Police Command said the arrests were made on August 4 and 5 after intelligence reports about the men’s movements in Otukpo Local Government Area and Okpokwu Local Government Area.

Daily Trust and Daily Post both reported that three of the men, Younas Mohammad, 36, Ahmad Nunil, 38, and Aslam Muhammad, 46, were first stopped at Adoka motor park in Otukpo while trying to board a vehicle to Adoka village.

Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondongu said the three men told officers they were in the area to market cosmetics and mobile gadgets, but the items they mentioned were not found with them. The command said their explanation raised questions that required further investigation.

In a second operation on August 5, officers arrested two other Pakistani nationals, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, at a hotel in Ugbokolo. Police said the men claimed to be Android phone dealers, and a search led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.

The command said later follow-up work uncovered 23 more Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one Infinix Hot 60, bringing the total number of recovered phones to 35.

The suspects have been transferred to the State Intelligence Department in Makurdi for further investigation. Police said the Benue command was also working with the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to verify their immigration status and the purpose of their activities in the state.

No conviction has been reported. The case remains under investigation.

Sources: Daily Trust and Daily Post.