Authorities in Benue State have taken 34 foreign citizens into custody after they were found engaging in questionable activities across two local government areas.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Cletus Nwadiogbu, who disclosed this on Tuesday while parading the suspects and others arrested for various offences at the Command Headquarters in Makurdi, expressed concern over the growing attraction of Otukpo to foreign nationals whose movements have raised security concerns.
Nwadiogbu said the arrest consists of 16 Cameroonians picked up in Otukpo town of Otukpo LGA and 18 Nigeriens intercepted at Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA on October 22.
He said the 16 Cameroonians arrested in Otukpo on October 9, claimed they came to settle in the town, but could not provide clear explanations for their purpose.
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Nwadiogbu said, “Otukpo has become a place where they like to go and hibernate. There must be something taking them to that axis.”
The commissioner added that the 18 Nigeriens intercepted at Orokam claimed they were travelling to Ikom in Cross River State but could not produce the required travel documents.
He said the suspects were being investigated to establish their immigration status and the circumstances surrounding their entry into the country.
The police commissioner added that the suspects would be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service after the investigation.
He recalled that some Pakistani nationals were also recently arrested in Otukpo, raising further questions about the town’s emergence as a destination for foreign nationals whose movements have attracted security attention.
What You Should Know
The Benue State Police Command has intensified scrutiny over foreign movements following the arrest of 34 individuals—including 16 Cameroonians in Otukpo and 18 Nigeriens in Orokam—who lacked proper travel documentation or clear reasons for settling in the areas.
- Positive Impact: Enhanced security surveillance and proactive police intervention help curb potential illicit operations and unauthorized settlements in local communities.
- Potential Concerns: The growing pattern of foreign nationals using towns like Otukpo as hidden transit points raises serious security questions regarding local border monitoring and immigration control.
