FAAN, Ondo Police give conflicting accounts of bandits arrested at Akure airport

ADETOKUNBO ABIOLA

Conflicting reports have emerged between the Nigeria Police operatives in Ondo State and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in Akure, over the arrest of four persons near Eleyewo Community behind the perimeter of the airport.

According to a statement by Henry Agbebire, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at FAAN, an operation led to the arrest of four suspected bandits on Sunday night near Eleyewo community, following a distress alert that suspicious individuals had been sighted behind the airport’s perimeter.

According to Agbebire, the arrest was made possible by a coordinated security operation involving aviation and local security agencies.

However, officials of the Nigeria Police have refuted the reports currently circulating across some media platforms alleging that four bandits were arrested at the Akure Airport.

According to a press release signed by Abayomi Jimoh, the Police Public Relations Officer, no bandit was arrested and no security breach of any kind took place at the Akure Airport.

Abayomi, however, said that the command received credible intelligence from a concerned citizen regarding the activities of suspected kidnappers around the Eleyewo axis of Akure.

Acting swiftly on the tip-off, operatives of the command launched a targeted operation, which led to the arrest of two suspects, discovered through preliminary investigation to be logistics suppliers to kidnappers within the state.

“They have since made useful confessional statements that are currently aiding ongoing investigations and efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal network,” Abayomi said in the release.

He then urged members of the public to disregard the inaccurate reports suggesting that bandits were arrested at the Akure Airport, saying such claims were false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic.

The command further reassured residents that security around critical infrastructure, including the airport, remained intact and uncompromised, while members of the public were encouraged to continue with their lawful activities without fear, and to always provide timely and credible information to security agencies.