A suspected bandit intrusion caused a security scare at Akure Airport in Ondo State on Sunday after armed men reportedly approached farmland near the airport’s runway area.
The incident occurred in the afternoon when farmers working behind the airport’s operational fence suddenly ran towards the runway shouting for help after spotting armed men on motorcycles believed to be bandits heading toward their farms.
The unusual movement close to the runway quickly drew the attention of air traffic controllers in the control tower. The controllers immediately raised the alarm and alerted airport security operatives while notifying the leadership of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
A joint security response involving personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, and Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was quickly launched.
During the coordinated search operation, security operatives combed the surrounding bush and forest areas near the airport and arrested four suspects believed to be linked to the intrusion.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police for further interrogation at the area command.
Sources said security agencies had earlier received a distress call reporting suspicious individuals around the airport environment, particularly behind the facility close to the Eleyewo community.
One of the suspects was first apprehended during the search before additional operatives captured the remaining three suspects in nearby forest areas.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists in Lagos.
According to Kuku, the airport authority immediately alerted key security formations, including the state Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander of the nearby army cantonment once the incident was reported.
She said the swift collaboration between security agencies and FAAN’s aviation security unit led to the successful arrest of the suspects.
Kuku also highlighted the vulnerability of many airports across the country, noting that several facilities lack proper operational and perimeter fencing, making them susceptible to intrusions by criminal elements.
She added that the Federal Government was accelerating the construction of perimeter fencing and other security infrastructure to prevent similar security breaches in the future.
