— Akure Airport safe, no case of banditry – Police
— We’ve arrested four suspected bandits – FAAN
The Ondo State Police Command and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have disagreed over the arrest of four bandits over the weekend at the Akure airport.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, described the FAAN position as misleading.
Lawal said there were no time bandits and that no suspected criminals were arrested by the airport’s Aviation Security (AVSEC).
But FAAN had, through its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, that the gunmen suspected to be bandits were arrested around the vicinity of the Akure Airport, with four of them arrested by AVSEC in collaboration with other security agencies.
Agbebire, in a statement, said the bandits were apprehended following a distress alert about the movement of unknown persons around the airport perimeter.
He added that a coordinated security operation involving aviation and local security agencies was swiftly activated, leading to the arrest of the bandits.
According to him, “The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to inform the public that four suspected bandits were apprehended today within the vicinity of Akure Airport, Ondo State.
“The arrest followed a distress alert that suspicious individuals were sighted behind the airport perimeter towards the Eleyewo community.
“During the operation, some individuals were seen attempting to flee the area. Four suspects were eventually apprehended by the joint security team and have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command for further interrogation.
“FAAN commends the swift collaboration among aviation security personnel, the military, the police, and local security groups, including Amotekun and community vigilantes, whose joint efforts led to the arrest.
“Work has already commenced in phases to ensure that airports under FAAN are better secured against unlawful access and other security threats,” Agbebire stated.
But while speaking with newsmen during the show of force by security personnel in Akure, the Commissioner of Police said that a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are kidnap logistics suppliers aiding kidnapping activities within the state.
Lawal said that the suspects were identified as Alhassan Muhammad, 20, and Faruq Sanni, 25, who he said were residents of Sabon-Sango, Akure.
He said that one of the suspects, who operates as a commercial motorcyclist, had been assisting kidnappers in the area by procuring and delivering food items and other supplies to their hideouts.
The police commissioner said that FAAN never participated in the arrest of the suspects, adding that there was no security breach of any sort at the airport. He described the airport authority’s stance as false and misleading.
According to him “Let me quickly debunk that issue of the arrest of four bandits. We don’t have bandits in Ondo State. We have criminals, not bandits.
“Two suspected logistics suppliers to all those criminals and kidnappers were arrested along the Eleyowo and Iluabo axes.
“One other one was arrested at Ilu-Abo, but that was not connected to the first two, and they are presently in police custody.
“So they were never arrested at the airport, contrary to the press statement made by the FAAN management staff. We carried out the operation. So they (FAAN) were not there. They were not arrested inside the airport.
“The Ondo State Police Command therefore, urges members of the public to disregard the inaccurate reports suggesting that bandits were arrested at the Akure Airport, as such claims are false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic.
Lawal added that “The command further reassures residents that security around critical infrastructure, including the airport, remains intact and uncompromised.
“Members of the public are encouraged to continue with their lawful activities without fear and to always provide timely and credible information to security agencies.”
Meanwhile, the Commander of the state security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, has confirmed that “in the initial arrests carried out yesterday (Sunday) by Amotekun, the police and officers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, four suspects were arrested.
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