A security scare unfolded at Akure Airport on Sunday, March 15, 2026, when four suspected bandits reportedly chased farmers from nearby farmlands onto the vicinity of the airport runway, prompting a swift response from joint security forces.
According to a statement from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), aviation security personnel (AVSEC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, and local security outfits, acted on a distress alert raised by air traffic controllers who spotted suspicious movements behind the airport perimeter fence near the Eleyewo community.
The farmers — including a woman and several young men — were seen fleeing toward the runway edge while shouting for help after noticing armed men on motorcycles pursuing them from adjacent farmlands. Security teams immediately combed the surrounding bush and forest areas, leading to the arrest of the four suspects.
FAAN emphasized that the incident involved unauthorized persons breaching the airport’s outer perimeter rather than any direct attempt to access aircraft or hijack a plane. The suspects were handed over to the police for further investigation.
The Managing Director of FAAN highlighted the successful joint operation and noted that such events underscore the urgency of completing perimeter fencing projects at airports nationwide, as accelerated by federal directives.
However, conflicting narratives spread rapidly on social media, with some users claiming a “failed plane hijack attempt” by bandits or terrorists (often labeled as Fulani herdsmen).
These reports triggered alarm and speculation about escalating insecurity in Ondo State and the Southwest.The Ondo State Police Command swiftly issued a press release debunking claims of a security breach or bandit arrests specifically at the airport. The command clarified that no incident occurred inside the airport facility itself and described circulating stories as “false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary panic.” Instead, police confirmed a separate operation in the nearby Eleyewo axis that led to the arrest of two suspected kidnap logistics suppliers based on citizen intelligence.
Authorities have reassured the public that security around critical infrastructure like Akure Airport remains intact. Investigations into the suspects’ identities, motives, and possible links to broader criminal networks (including kidnapping and banditry) are ongoing.
The incident has reignited concerns over the proximity of farmlands and dense bush to airport perimeters, as well as the broader spread of insecurity southward from traditional hotspots in northern Nigeria.
No flights were disrupted, and normal operations at the airport have continued without further reports of threats. Residents and travelers are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
