The Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State has said the suspects recently apprehended near Akure Airport are not bandits but individuals suspected of supplying logistics to kidnappers operating in the area.
In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson for the Ondo police command,Abayomi Jimoh, dismissed an earlier report by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) claiming that four bandits had been arrested close to the airport’s perimeter near the Eleyewo community in Akure.
The New Daily Prime reported FAAN had said in a statement late Sunday that the suspects were captured during what it described as a coordinated security effort involving aviation security personnel and local law enforcement agencies.
“During the operation, some individuals were seen attempting to flee the area. Four suspects were eventually apprehended by the joint security team and have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command for further interrogation,” FAAN had said.
However, the police command urged members of the public to ignore what it described as misleading reports suggesting bandits were arrested at the airport.
According to Jimoh, intelligence provided by a concerned resident alerted police to suspected kidnapping activities around the Eleyewo area, prompting a targeted operation by security operatives.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Command wishes to state clearly that no such incident occurred at the Akure Airport, and there was no security breach of any kind at the facility,” the statement read.
“The command, however, 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 in the area which led to the arrest of two suspects.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects are Kidnap Logistics Suppliers aiding kidnap activities 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.”
Jimoh added that reports claiming bandits were arrested inside the airport premises were inaccurate and capable of causing unnecessary alarm among residents.
‘NO BANDITS IN ONDO’
Speaking separately with journalists in Akure, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, the commissioner of police in the state, also rejected the claim that bandits were apprehended at the airport.
“Let me quickly debunk that issue of arrest of four bandits. We don’t have bandits in Ondo state. We have criminals, not bandits,” Lawal said.
He clarified that police operatives only arrested two suspects believed to be supplying materials and support to kidnappers operating in parts of the state.
“Two suspected logistics suppliers to those criminals and kidnappers were arrested along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis. One other suspect was arrested at Ilu-Abo but was not connected to the first two,” he said.
The police chief stressed that none of the suspects was arrested within the airport facility, contradicting the earlier statement attributed to FAAN officials.
“So they were never arrested at the airport, contrary to the press statement made by the FAAN management staff,” he added.
When asked if the police were directly disputing FAAN’s version of events, Lawal replied: “Yes, of course. We carried out the operation. So they were not there. They were not arrested inside the airport.”
He explained that the suspects were only taken close to the airport area after their arrest while guiding security operatives to other suspected hideouts.
“They were leading them to where others were. So they were not actually arrested at the airport,” Lawal said.
The clarification comes amid growing security concerns in the state. Since the beginning of the year, parts of Ondo have witnessed a rise in violent attacks and abductions.
On March 3, residents of the Ayede Ogbese community in Akure North Local Government Area staged protests and blocked the busy Akure-Owo-Benin highway over repeated killings and kidnappings in their area.
A week later, residents of Ilu-Abo and nearby communities again barricaded the Akure-Owo Expressway to protest the rising cases of abduction affecting their communities.
