Confusion in Ondo as Police, FAAN Clash over ‘Bandits’ Arrest at Akure Airport

Fidelis David in Akure 

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Ondo State command of the Nigeria Police Force, have been at loggerheads following conflicting accounts over the arrest of suspected bandits around the Akure Airport.

In a statement made available to journalists in Akure, yesterday, FAAN announced that four suspected bandits were arrested within the airport vicinity during a joint security operation, but Police in Ondo State denied the claim, insisting no such arrest took place at the airport.

In the statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, FAAN said the suspects were apprehended after security operatives responded to a distress alert about suspicious movements near the airport perimeter towards the Eleyewo community.

According to the agency, the operation involved multiple security outfits, including FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the police, and local security groups.

“The arrest followed a distress alert that suspicious individuals were sighted behind the airport perimeter towards the Eleyewo community. 

“In response, security personnel comprising FAAN’s Aviation Security, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and other local security outfits immediately launched a joint search operation.”

The aviation authority explained that during the operation, some individuals attempted to flee the area, adding that four suspects were eventually apprehended and subsequently handed over to the police for further interrogation.

FAAN commended the collaboration among aviation security personnel, the military, police and local security groups, including Amotekun operatives and community vigilantes, noting that the joint effort led to the successful arrest.

The agency also used the incident to highlight the need for stronger airport perimeter protection across the country.

It stated that the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, with the backing of President Bola Tinubu, had accelerated the provision of modern perimeter fencing and enhanced security infrastructure at airports nationwide.

“Work has already commenced in phases to ensure that airports under FAAN are better secured against unlawful access and other security threats,” the statement added.

However, speaking with journalists in Akure, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, said the report that four bandits were arrested at the airport was inaccurate.

“Let me quickly debunk that issue of arrest of four bandits. We don’t have bandits in Ondo State. We have criminals, not bandits,” Lawal said.

The police chief explained that the command only arrested two suspects believed to be logistics suppliers aiding kidnappers operating within parts of the state.

“Two suspected logistics suppliers to those criminals and kidnappers were arrested along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis. One other suspect was arrested at Ilu-Abo but was not connected to the first two,” he said.

Lawal insisted that none of the suspects was arrested inside the airport facility as suggested in FAAN’s statement.

“So they were never arrested at the airport, contrary to the press statement made by the FAAN management staff,” he added.

When asked if the police were directly disputing FAAN’s account of the incident, the commissioner responded: “Yes, of course. We carried out the operation. So they were not there. They were not arrested inside the airport.”

He clarified that the suspects were only taken close to the airport area during the investigation after being compelled to lead security operatives to other possible hideouts.

“They were leading them to where others were. So they were not actually arrested at the airport,” Lawal explained.

In a separate statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, the police urged the public to disregard reports suggesting that bandits were arrested at the airport.

“The Ondo State Police Command wishes to categorically refute the misleading reports currently circulating across some media platforms alleging that four bandits were arrested at the Akure Airport.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no such incident occurred at the Akure Airport and there was no security breach of any kind at the facility,” the statement read.