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Benue: Police arrest 5 Pakistanis, recover 35 phones in intelligence operations

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Benue State Police Command has announced the arrest of five Pakistani nationals and the recovery of 35 mobile phones during separate intelligence-driven operations in Otukpo and Ugbokolo.

The command said three of the suspects were apprehended on August 4, 2026, at Adoka Motor Park in Otukpo Local Government Area after operatives acted on information received from credible sources. 

The suspects, identified as Younas Mohammad, 36; Ahmad Nunil, 38; and Aslam Muhammad, 46, were intercepted while attempting to board a vehicle to Adoka village.

According to the police spokesperson, DSP Orchia Peter Aondongu, the suspects were questioned following their arrest and claimed they had travelled to Otukpo to market cosmetics and mobile devices. 

However, the items they mentioned were reportedly not found in their possession.

Aondongu said their explanation raised further concerns about their activities and movements within the area, noting that the suspects stated 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 police said another operation carried out on August 5 led to the arrest of two more Pakistani nationals at a hotel in Ugbokolo. 

The suspects were identified as Juma Sharif, 30, and Muhammed Sharif, 25.

The two men reportedly told investigators they were involved in the sale of Android phones. 

A search of their belongings, however, resulted in the discovery of eleven Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones.

The two suspects claimed to be dealers in Android phones. 

A search of their belongings led to the recovery of eleven (11) Tecno Camon 50 Pro mobile phones.

The command said subsequent investigations and operational follow-up led to the discovery of another 24 mobile phones, comprising 23 Tecno Camon 50 Pro devices and one Infinix Hot 60.

“Further investigation and operational follow-up resulted in the recovery of an additional twenty-three (23) Tecno Camon 50 Pro phones and one (1) Infinix Hot 60 phone, bringing the total number of recovered mobile phones to thirty-five (35),” he added.

The five suspects have since been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Makurdi for further questioning and detailed investigation.

Police said investigators were working to determine the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ presence in Benue, as well as their activities and movements across the state.

The command added that it was investigating the possibility that the phones were being used as a cover for other activities in rural communities.

Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Cletus Nwadiogbu, praised the officers who participated in the operations and thanked members of the public whose information assisted the Police in making the arrests.

Nwadiogbu also called on residents to stay alert and provide security agencies with timely information about suspicious individuals, movements and activities.

“The Command will continue to work with relevant stakeholders and members of the public to maintain peace and security across Benue State. 

The public will be updated as the investigation progress,” the statement added.



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Metro

Army rescues 33 kidnapped passengers in Zamfara

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Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have rescued 33 passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

This is contained in a statement by the media information officer of JTF North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt-Col Aliyu Danja, on Sunday.

Danja said the passengers were rescued on August 8 after credible information that terrorists had abducted commuters travelling through the Magazu area of Tsafe LGA.

According to him, the troops and police personnel deployed in Tsafe immediately mobilised to the area after receiving the information.

The spokesman further stated that the security forces made contact with the terrorists while they were moving the abducted passengers to an undisclosed destination.

“The troops engaged the terrorists with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes.

“The troops subsequently secured and rescued all 33 abducted persons without any casualty,” he said.



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Kidnapped Enugu Catholic seminarian, others released

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A Catholic seminarian and other worshippers abducted by gunmen at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been released.

DAILY POST reported that the victims were kidnapped during a church service on Sunday morning when gunmen invaded the church.

The development was announced by social media influencer, Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Ugwuanyi said the victims were released from captivity following sustained efforts by security operatives and local authorities to track down the kidnappers.

He commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for his intervention, saying the governor had given the kidnappers a “tough fight” since the abduction occurred.

According to him, the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Enugu State, the governor’s aide-de-camp and the Chairman of Udi Local Government Area, Ogbonnia Agu, were part of the team that pursued the kidnappers.

“To God be the glory. Those our brothers that were kidnapped in a Catholic church at Affa have been released from captivity,” Ugwuanyi wrote.

He added that the sustained pressure on the kidnappers eventually forced them to release the victims.

The victims had been abducted alongside a catechist and another worshipper.

The catechist was reportedly released shortly after the attack, while the seminarian and another victim remained in captivity.

As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command has not issued an official statement on the release.



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Troops intercept 55 cows, arrest 13-year-old herder over alleged farm destruction

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Troops of Sector 3, Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), have intercepted 55 cows and arrested a 13-year-old herder following separate reports of alleged farm destruction in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The development was contained in a post shared on X by security analyst Zagazola Makama on Saturday night.

According to the report, the troops responded to a distress call at about 5:20 p.m. on August 8 over the alleged destruction of a farm belonging to a resident, Yusuf John, in Miango, Bassa LGA.

The troops reportedly arrived at the farm and found 55 cows grazing on the farmland.

The herder allegedly fled after sighting the security personnel, while the troops moved the cattle to a safe location for further necessary action.

In a separate incident at Jebbu Miango, also in Bassa LGA, the troops responded to another report of alleged farm destruction involving a farmer identified as John Isaiah.

“During the operation, the troops arrested a 13-year-old herder identified as Ibrahim in connection with the incident.

“The teenager was taken into custody as investigations continue to determine what happened and establish his involvement in the alleged destruction of the farm,” Makama wrote.



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