14 convicted for stealing building materials at Lagos airport

Fourteen suspects have been sentenced for allegedly stealing building materials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspects, Muhammed Sadiq, Aliu Umaru, Nuhu Muhammed, Adam Muhammed, Husaini Garuba, Suleman Umaru, Muhammed Musa, Ali Ali, Haruna Adamu, Umaru Musa, Henry Kumasen, Aliu Umaru, Idris Umaru and Bakura Mustapha, were charged before the Magistrate Court for Special Offences in Oshodi yesterday.

Thirteen of the suspects pleaded guilty and were convicted, receiving one year and seven months’ imprisonment, while one suspect who pleaded not guilty was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to June 16.

According to Airport Police spokesperson, Adeola, the suspects were arrested between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on April 20, at the Terminal 1 building undergoing renovation.

Adeola said the suspects were apprehended by a Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF), comprising personnel of the Airport Police Command and other security agencies, during a routine patrol.

He said: “Prior to the arrest, project managers overseeing the renovation had reported persistent cases of missing building materials within the Terminal 1 axis. This prompted intensified surveillance and patrol operations around the area.”

Items recovered from the suspects included high-value copper wires, iron components and other building materials, while preliminary investigations showed that they allegedly gained access to the facility by impersonating construction workers, thereby breaching established security protocols.

The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Ogunbode Olufunke, commended the Joint Monitoring Task Force for its swift response, describing the operation as a demonstration of the command’s zero-tolerance stance on crime within the aviation environment.

She reiterated the command’s commitment to sustained collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of airport operations.

Also, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said: “FAAN remains resolute in its mandate to protect all airport assets and ensure the safety and integrity of ongoing development projects nationwide. The Authority continues to enhance surveillance, access control systems, and inter-agency collaboration to deter and respond decisively to security threats.

“Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or activities within and around airport vicinity to security agencies.”