Ondo Police Dismiss Reports of Akure Airport Bandit Arrests, Contradicting Federal Aviation Authority Claims

Ondo Police contradict FAAN, stating no bandits were arrested at Akure Airport. Learn the truth behind the kidnap logistics suspects caught in Eleyewo.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 8:46 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

Conflicting Accounts of Airport Security

A significant jurisdictional disagreement has emerged between the Ondo State Police Command and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over a reported security incident at Akure Airport. On Sunday, March 15, FAAN issued a high-profile announcement titled “FAAN AVSEC, others arrest bandits at Akure Airport,” claiming that security operatives had apprehended four suspicious individuals following a distress alert. However, by Monday, March 16, 2026, the State Police Command countered this narrative, asserting that no such incident occurred within the airport's boundaries and that no security breach had taken place.

Intelligence vs. Perimeter Intrusion

According to FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Agbebire, the arrests were the result of a joint operation involving Aviation Security (AVSEC), the Amotekun Corps, and local vigilantes. The authority claimed the suspects were spotted behind the airport perimeter near the Eleyewo community and were apprehended after a brief attempt to escape. FAAN also moved to debunk a viral "gory" image circulating online, clarifying that while an arrest occurred, there was no violent confrontation or bloodshed at the facility.

Police Clarification on "Kidnap Logistics"

The Ondo State Police spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, provided a different context for the arrests. He explained that the confusion likely stemmed from a targeted operation conducted in the Eleyewo axis—located several kilometers away from the airport. Rather than being "bandits" breaching an aviation facility, the police identified the two suspects (not four, as claimed by FAAN) as critical links in a "kidnap logistics and supply network." These individuals are currently providing confessional statements that are aiding investigations into kidnapping gangs operating within the state.