The Airport Police Command has arraigned fourteen suspects for allegedly stealing building materials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in a crackdown that has already led to multiple convictions.
The suspects were arrested on April 20, 2026, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Terminal 1 building currently undergoing renovation. Their arrest followed a coordinated operation by the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF), a multi-agency security team comprising personnel of the Airport Police Command and other security outfits, during a routine patrol.
Security sources indicated that the operation was triggered by repeated reports from project managers over the disappearance of construction materials within the Terminal 1 axis. This prompted heightened surveillance and intensified patrols around the facility.
Acting on credible intelligence about unauthorised persons within the restricted construction zone, operatives moved swiftly to the scene, where fourteen individuals were apprehended with high-value items including copper wires, iron components and other building materials.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly gained access to the site by posing as workers attached to the construction company, thereby breaching established security protocols.
Following investigations, the suspects were charged before the Magistrate Court for Special Offences in Oshodi, Lagos, on April 21, 2026. 13 of them pleaded guilty and were subsequently convicted and sentenced to one year and seven months’ imprisonment. One suspect, who pleaded not guilty, has been remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to June 16, 2026.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Olufunke Ogunbode, commended the Joint Monitoring Task Force for its swift and coordinated response.
She noted that the operation underscores the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against criminal activities within the aviation environment, adding that efforts would be sustained to safeguard critical infrastructure at the nation’s airports.
The Command also reiterated its commitment to working closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the continued safety, security and integrity of airport operations.