Security Operatives Arrest Four Suspected Bandits at Akure Airport

Security operatives have arrested four suspected bandits at Akure Airport following a joint operation by aviation and local security agencies.

In a statement issued late Sunday, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the suspects were apprehended after security personnel detected suspicious movements behind the airport’s perimeter fence near the Eleyewo community.

According to the statement signed by Henry Adegbire, FAAN’s director of public affairs and consumer protection, the agency activated a coordinated response involving several security units.

Personnel from FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and local security outfits conducted a joint search of the area after the individuals were spotted.

During the operation, some of the suspects attempted to escape, but four were eventually apprehended by the security team. They have since been transferred to the police area command for interrogation.

FAAN said the operation also involved the regional security network Amotekun Corps and local vigilante groups.

The agency commended the collaboration among aviation security officials, the military, the police, and community-based security groups, noting that their joint efforts led to the arrests.

FAAN added that the incident highlights the need for stronger protection of airport perimeters. The authority said work is already underway in phases to improve security across airports under its management and prevent unauthorised access.

The agency also assured passengers and nearby communities that it remains committed to maintaining safety across airport facilities nationwide.

The arrests come amid increasing security concerns in Ondo State, where residents have recently staged protests over rising attacks by gunmen.

On March 3, residents of Ayede Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area blocked the Akure–Owo–Benin highway to protest killings and abductions in their community.

A week later, residents of Ilu-Abo and neighbouring communities also barricaded the Akure–Owo expressway to protest a wave of kidnappings. Demonstrators placed the remains of a kidnap victim on the road while chanting protest songs, worsening traffic on the route linking southern and northern parts of the country.