Suspected Bandits Arrested Near Akure Airport

THERE was panic and palpable tension among airport users, residents and farmers around the Akure Airport on Saturday, March 14, as four suspected bandits were arrested in a joint security operation around the facility’s perimeter.
The incident followed an alarm raised by local farmers on sighting strange men on motorcycles moving suspiciously behind the airport’s operational fence near the Eleyewo community in Akure, Ondo State.
It was gathered that tension mounted when a woman and some young men were sited running from their farms behind the airport fence towards the edge of the runway, shouting for help after allegedly noticing armed men approaching on motorcycles.
The farmers initially feared they were about to be attacked before a team of security operatives, who had been tracking the suspects, suddenly swooped on them, eventually surrounded and arrested them after a brief pursuit around the airport environment.
Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) in the Tower were said to have alerted security operatives that some suspicious individuals were sighted moving behind the airport towards the Eleyewo axis, prompting a security response, involving personnel from the Aviation Environment Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Nigerian Army and other security agencies, who were quickly mobilised to intercept the suspects.
During the operation, one of the suspects was reported to have been first apprehended by the operatives, while others were rounded up around the area.
The suspects were later handed over to the Nigeria Police Area Command for further interrogation and investigation into their activities.
Confirming the development to journalists on Sunday, March 15, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, said the operation was carried out through a collaborative effort involving multiple security agencies.
According to her: “We have alerted the CP, the Brig-General of the Nigeria Army Cantonment, MAC and their men are all involved in collaboration with AVSEC.
“The joint operation was successful, as four suspects were apprehended and have been handed over to the Police.”
Kuku said the incident further underscored the need to strengthen security infrastructure around airports across the country, stressing that improved fencing and surveillance would help prevent unauthorised access to critical aviation facilities
“This is the reason the President and the minister have accelerated establishing operational and perimeter fences at the airports,” she added.
Also, the Ondo State Police Command spokesman, Abayomi Jimoh (DSP), while confirming the incident and arrests, added that two other suspected collaborators linked to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising the Ilu-Abo community and the surrounding areas, were nabbed.
“In its ongoing efforts to curb kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state. The suspects, identified as Alhassan Muhammad (20) and Faruq Muhammad Sanni (25), all residents of Sabon-Sango, Akure, were arrested on March 15, following credible intelligence provided by a concerned member of the Ilu-Abo community.
“The information indicated that one of the suspects, who operates as a commercial motorcyclist, had been assisting kidnappers in the area by procuring and delivering food items and other supplies to their hideouts.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad immediately mobilised to the location and carried out a targeted operation.
“The operation led to the successful arrest of the two suspects, while other members of the criminal syndicate fled upon sighting the approaching police operatives.”
Jimoh stated that the suspects were in custody and had made useful statements in assisting the Police with further investigation.