Benue: Police arrest five Pakistanis over ‘suspicious activities’, recover 35 mobile phones
The police command in Benue says it has detained five Pakistan nationals over suspected clandestine activities in parts of the state.
Peter Aondongu, police spokesperson in Benue, relayed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that 35 mobile phones were recovered during separate operations involving the suspects.
According to Aondongu, three of the foreigners, Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46, were intercepted on August 4 at the Adoka motor park in Otukpo LGA.
He said the trio were about to board a vehicle heading to Adoka village when they were arrested.
During interrogation, the suspects claimed they had travelled to the community to sell cosmetics and mobile gadgets.
Aondongu said however, the police found none of the items the men claimed they were selling in their possession, prompting further questions about their purpose for visiting the area.
He said another operation conducted on August 5 based on intelligence resulted in the arrest of two more Pakistanis identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25.
The suspects were arrested at a hotel in Ugbokolo community, Okpokwu LGA.
According to the police, the two men identified themselves as Android phone dealers.
A search of their belongings uncovered 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.
Aondongu said investigators later recovered an additional 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and an Infinix Hot 60, bringing the number of recovered devices to 35.
The five suspects have been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Makurdi where investigations into their activities, movements, and reasons for being in the state are ongoing.
The command also said the suspects have limited ability to speak or understand English, adding that the phones may have been used as cover for other activities.
