The was a security breach on Sunday at the Akure Airport after suspected bandits invaded the runway area.

Information gathered by The Guardian indicated that the incident occurred in the afternoon when farmers working on farmlands behind the airport’s operational fence suddenly fled towards the runway while shouting for help after sighting armed men on motorcycles believed to be bandits approaching their farm.

The unusual movement near the runway quickly caught the attention of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) in the control tower, who immediately raised an alarm and alerted airport security operatives and also informed the leadership of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The bandits were later reportedly arrested by the officials of the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Army stationed around the airport and Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) through a coordinated search operation in the surrounding forest and bush areas.

During the operation, security operatives combed the nearby bush and arrested four suspects believed to be linked to the intrusion.

The suspects were later handed over to the police for further interrogation at the area command.

It was learnt that prior to the arrests, security agencies had received a distress call reporting the presence of suspicious individuals around the airport vicinity, particularly behind the airport close to the Eleyewo community.

One of the suspects was initially apprehended during the search before additional operatives captured the remaining three in the surrounding forest.

The Managing Director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, confirmed the incident in a statement to journalists in Lagos.

According to her, immediately the incident occurred, the airport authority alerted key security formations, including the Commissioner of Police and the Brigade Commander of the nearby army cantonment once the incident was reported.

She explained that the security agencies working in collaboration with FAAN’s AVSEC unit carried out a coordinated operation that led to the successful arrest of the suspects.

Most of the country’s airports lacked operational and perimeter fencing, which further made the airports porous and easy to penetrate by unscrupulous elements.

She, however, said that the Federal Government was accelerating the construction of the facilities to prevent similar occurrences.