The Police Command in Benue State has detained five Pakistani nationals with 35 mobile phones in separate intelligence-led operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo.
The command spokesman, DSP Aondongu Orchia, disclosed this in a statement in Makurdi yesterday.
Orchia said three of the suspects were detained on August 4 at Adoka Motor Park, Otukpo Local Government Area, when they were about to board a vehicle to Adoka village, The Nation reports.
He said they were Younas Mohammad, 36, Ahmad Nunil, 38, and Aslam Muhammad, 46.
“They said they were in Otukpo to sell cosmetics and mobile gadgets but we did not find any of such items on them,” he said.
He stated their reasoning and actions in the region were questionable and deserved additional explanation.
Two more Pakistani nationals, Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25, were arrested on August 5 at a local hotel in Ugbokolo, Orchia said.
He said the two suspects claimed to be dealers in android phones and a search of their things led to the recovery of 11 Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.
“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,” he said.
The five suspects have been handed over to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Makurdi for further investigations, Orchia stated.
The police spokesman said the Command suspected the presence of the phones was a decoy for clandestine actions in remote areas of the state.
The suspects had trouble speaking or understanding English, which made a rigorous inquiry even more necessary, he said.
The actions were part of the Command’s proactive intelligence-led policing policy to identify potential security risks, disrupt criminal activity and defend lives and property, Orchia added.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, congratulated the officers for their professionalism and members of the public for their timely information that aided the arrests.
Nwadiogbu appealed to the residents to be vigilant and report any suspected persons, movements or activities to the police without delay.
He assured the public that the command would continue to cooperate with key stakeholders to ensure peace and security in the state.
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