No fewer than 21 persons, including touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers, and scavengers, have been arrested by officers of the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
This was announced in a press statement on Saturday by The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
According to FAAN, the arrests were made in a bid to “rid the airport environment of touts and perpetrators of illegitimate activities”.
To achieve this feat, “the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) Unit have since the past few weeks conducted raids in this regard. Cable thieves and other miscreants have been apprehended in the course of these raids.
“On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) JMTF and AVSEC-CII raided the ITZ 1 and 2 landsides, the carparks, and the airport access roads.
“In the course of the raid, a total of 21 persons, including touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers, and scavengers, were arrested,” the statement said.
FAAN stated that those arrested have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
“The apprehended suspects have since been transferred to the Nigerian Police Force through the CII for further necessary action”.
The airport authorities, while starting their unwavering drive to achieve a safe and secured environment for airport users, urged the public to desist from carrying out illegitimate businesses at the airport.
“FAAN warns that anyone who has no legitimate business at the airports should please desist from approaching the airports.
“The safety and security of airport users and the airport environment are of the utmost importance and cannot be compromised,” the statement added.