Police to arraign 13 suspects over alleged theft of building materials at Lagos Airport

The Airport Police Command has announced plans to arraign 13 suspects arrested for allegedly stealing construction materials from ongoing rehabilitation projects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation by operatives of the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF), which was established to enhance security around the airport and protect critical infrastructure from criminal activities.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the Airport Command, ASP Mohammed Adeola, the arrests followed credible intelligence on suspicious activities around the airport’s construction zones.

He said security operatives intercepted the suspects while they were allegedly attempting to remove high-value construction materials, including copper cables, iron components and other items used for the airport’s ongoing upgrade works.

“The operatives of the Joint Monitoring Task Force apprehended the suspects in possession of high-value copper cables, iron components and other building materials recovered from the construction site,” Adeola said. “They were subsequently handed over to the International Airport Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.”

The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Hassan, Haruna Yaya, Ali Muhammed, Walid Shaibu, Idris Musa, Aliu Musa, Mustapha Umaru, Timothy Joseph, Isa Adamu, Musa Abdullahi Hassan, Mamuda Ibrahim, Mukhtar Aliyu and Ibrahim Jidda.

Police said the suspects have been remanded in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The command noted that the latest arrests form part of ongoing efforts to curb theft and vandalism at the airport, following previous convictions of individuals involved in similar offences at the MMIA Terminal 1 construction site.

Authorities warned that theft of construction materials poses a threat to critical infrastructure projects and could delay the completion of ongoing airport rehabilitation works.

Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, commended members of the Joint Monitoring Task Force for their vigilance and professionalism during the operation.

She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to securing all aviation facilities within its jurisdiction and warned that anyone found sabotaging government infrastructure would face the full weight of the law.

The commissioner also urged airport workers, contractors and members of the public to promptly report suspicious movements or activities around restricted areas to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to safeguarding critical national assets.