Tension spread among travellers, residents, and farmers near Akure Airport on Saturday after suspected bandits were captured during a coordinated security operation around the airport perimeter. The situation unfolded when local farmers reported seeing unfamiliar men riding motorcycles suspiciously behind the airport’s security fence close to the Eleyewo area of Akure.
Witnesses told The Punch that fear escalated after a woman and several youths ran from their farms toward the runway area, shouting for help after reportedly spotting armed men approaching on motorcycles. Sources within the airport said the farmers initially feared an imminent attack, but security forces quickly moved in on the suspects in what was later revealed to be a pre-planned ambush operation. The individuals had reportedly been under surveillance by a joint security team before they were cornered and arrested following a brief chase around the airport vicinity.
Security agencies had earlier received an emergency alert about suspicious movements behind the airport toward the Eleyewo axis, prompting a rapid response. Personnel from the Aviation Environment Command, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army, and other security units were swiftly deployed to intercept the suspects. During the operation, one suspect was initially captured, while others were later apprehended in surrounding areas.
Those arrested were subsequently transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command for questioning and further investigation. Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, said the arrests resulted from strong inter-agency collaboration. She explained that the Commissioner of Police, the Brigade Commander of the army cantonment, the Military Air Command, and aviation security personnel all worked together on the mission. According to her, the joint effort led to the arrest of four suspects who have since been handed over to the police.
Kuku noted that the incident highlights the urgent need to reinforce airport security nationwide. She stressed that better perimeter fencing and surveillance systems are critical to preventing unauthorised access to sensitive aviation facilities, adding that the President and the Aviation Minister have fast-tracked perimeter security projects at airports.
The Ondo State Police Command also confirmed the arrests, stating that suspected bandits were apprehended near the airport in the Eleyewo community within Akure North Local Government Area. Police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh verified the development and disclosed additional arrests linked to kidnapping operations in nearby communities.He said two suspected collaborators connected to a kidnapping syndicate operating around the Ilu-Abo area were taken into custody as part of ongoing efforts to combat violent crime across the state.
The suspects — Alhassan Muhammad (20) and Faruq Muhammad Sanni (25), both residents of Sabon-Sango in Akure — were arrested on March 15, 2026, after credible intelligence from a community member. Police said one of them worked as a commercial motorcyclist and allegedly supplied food and other items to kidnappers’ hideouts. Acting on the intelligence, the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad launched a targeted operation that led to their arrest, while other gang members reportedly escaped.
Jimoh added that the suspects remain in custody and have provided useful information to aid ongoing investigations. Eleyewo and several communities in Akure North LGA have faced repeated bandit attacks this year, with multiple kidnapping incidents recorded. Three residents, including a pregnant woman, were previously abducted in Eleyewo, Ilu-Abo, and Ayede communities but were later freed after ransom payments. In another incident last Monday, gunmen abducted three people from a farm near Akure Airport in Ilu-Abo community. One of the victims was Joseph Aladesuyi, Secretary of Okeluju Local Council Development Area in Akoko North-West, Ondo State.
Source : https://punchng.com/
