Security Crackdown at Akure Airport: Four Suspected Bandits Arrested
In a statement issued late Sunday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the suspects were apprehended during a coordinated security operation involving aviation security personnel and other local security agencies.
According to FAAN, the individuals were first spotted behind the airport’s perimeter fence near the Eleyewo community.
The agency said security personnel, including FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and other local security groups, immediately launched a joint search operation in response to the sighting.
During the operation, some individuals reportedly attempted to flee the area, but four suspects were captured by the security team. The suspects have since been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command for further questioning.
In the statement signed by Henry Adegbire, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, the authority commended the swift collaboration among aviation security officials, the military, the police, and local security outfits, including Amotekun and community vigilantes.
FAAN said the incident highlights the need to strengthen security around airport perimeters, noting that phased efforts are already underway to enhance protection across airports under its management against illegal access and other threats.
The authority also assured travellers and host communities of its continued commitment to ensuring the safety and security of airport facilities nationwide.
Meanwhile, Ondo State has witnessed a surge in attacks by gunmen in recent weeks.
On March 3, protesters from the Ayede Ogbese community in Akure North Local Government Area blocked the Akure-Owo-Benin highway to protest repeated killings and abductions in the area.
Similarly, on March 10, residents of Ilu-Abo and neighbouring communities in the same local government area barricaded the Akure-Owo expressway over increasing cases of kidnapping.
During the protest, demonstrators placed the remains of a kidnap victim on the highway while chanting solidarity songs, causing heavy traffic on the busy road linking the southern and northern parts of the country.