A dispute has emerged between the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria over claims of a security breach and the arrest of suspected bandits at Akure Airport in Ondo State.
FAAN had earlier stated that four suspected bandits were apprehended within the airport’s vicinity after allegedly chasing farmers onto the runway, triggering a security alert from air traffic controllers. According to the agency, a joint team comprising Aviation Security personnel and other operatives, including the military, carried out a search operation that led to the arrests.
However, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has strongly refuted the claim, describing it as misleading and inaccurate. He insisted that no bandits were arrested at the airport and that there was no security breach at the facility.
According to the police, the arrests in question were part of a separate intelligence-led operation targeting suspected kidnappers in the Eleyewo axis of Akure North Local Government Area. Authorities said the suspects are believed to be logistics suppliers supporting kidnapping activities in the state and not bandits intercepted at the airport as earlier suggested.
Adding another layer to the conflicting accounts, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed that multiple security agencies, including Amotekun, the police and FAAN personnel, were involved in initial arrests linked to the incident, suggesting some level of coordinated response despite the disagreement over details.
Amid the controversy, security agencies in the state carried out a show of force across Akure to reassure residents and signal a renewed crackdown on criminal activity. The operation involved the police, the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services and the Amotekun Corps, all pledging to intensify efforts against kidnapping and other crimes.
Beyond the conflicting narratives, aviation security experts say the incident has once again drawn attention to longstanding vulnerabilities at Nigerian airports. They warn that without urgent upgrades to perimeter fencing and surveillance systems, similar security concerns may continue to arise.
A former commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, John Ojikutu, noted that many airports in the country still fall short of the recommended standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, particularly in terms of perimeter protection.
Other industry professionals, including aviation expert Mohammed Badamasi, stressed that fencing alone is insufficient without integrated surveillance systems such as CCTV, warning that gaps in monitoring infrastructure not only expose airports to intrusions but also elevate operational and insurance risks.
While authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the conflicting accounts have raised broader concerns about coordination, communication and security preparedness within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
