The Airport Police Command, has intercepted a 14-year-old male, Miracle Eke, in connection with a stowaway attempt at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

A statement on Monday by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Airport Police Command, Adeola Mohammed, said that the incident occurred at the airport on Monday.

According to the statement, the minor was discovered on the airport tarmac while attempting to unlawfully gain access beneath an aircraft, an act , which he said constitutes a serious breach of aviation security protocols within a highly sensitive operational environment.

He expressed that preliminary findings by the command, showed that the boy unlawfully entered a restricted area of the airport without authorisation, contrary to Sections 2 and 3 of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) byelaws and engaged in actions consistent with a stowaway attempt.

He stressed that on interception, Eket was taken into protective custody in line with due process and established child protection procedures.

He, emphasised that the parents of the boy had been notified and all necessary protocols were observed, including the conduct of the interview process in the presence of his parents.

He added that the suspect was provided with appropriate care, support and welfare considerations throughout the process.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, Olufunke Ogunbode, reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s aviation infrastructure.

She described the airport as a critical national asset that required strict adherence to security regulations at all times.

She urged parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over their children and wards, particularly in relation to movements around restricted and high-risk environments such as airports.

She noted that the case would be handled in accordance with applicable juvenile justice procedures, while the minor would be charged before the appropriate juvenile court.

“The Airport police command remains steadfast in its resolve to maintain safety, security, and order within the aviation ecosystem, while upholding the rights and welfare of all individuals, particularly minors,” she added.