3 Cable Thieves Arrested By FAAN’s Patrol Team At Murtala Muhammed Airport

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reported that a combined patrol team consisting of officers from Aviation Security’s Crime Investigation and Intelligence (CII) Unit and the Joint Military Task Force (JMTF) successfully apprehended three individuals suspected to be cable thieves near its Training School.

Among the suspects was an ex-convict who had previously served a 28-day jail sentence for a similar offence.

In a statement released on Friday, FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, disclosed that two of the suspects were caught at approximately 03:52 AM on Friday while in the act of digging and cutting electric cables that connected the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Powerhouse (International Wing, MMA) to the Domestic Terminal (MMA).

According to the statement, the third suspect, acting as a link between the other two and potential buyers at Arena Market, Oshodi, was arrested at 05:56 AM at Hajj & Cargo Terminal, following confessions provided by the other two suspects.

It was revealed during the ongoing investigation that one of the suspects had previously been convicted and sentenced to 28 days in prison for a similar offence in April 2022.

“The suspects are presently being interrogated by officials of FAAN AVSEC after which they will be handed over to the Police for prosecution,” Yakubu-Funtua stated.

FAAN remains committed to its core values of Safety, Security, and Comfort, and this incident further emphasizes the need for vigilance and security measures at the airport.

Earlier this month, SaharaReporters had reported that airfield lighting systems were stolen from the MMA runway. The theft occurred during the runway’s closure for maintenance, and it was allegedly facilitated by a “syndicate” of workers at the airport along with external accomplices.

The report revealed that several recommendations made by the MMA management to FAAN regarding security measures and infrastructure improvements were not implemented, which may have contributed to the incidents of theft. Further investigations are underway to address these security lapses and prevent similar incidents in the future. (CONTINUE READING HERE)