AKURE, Nigeria—The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has officially debunked reports of an attempted aircraft hijack at Akure Airport, describing the claims as “false and misleading.”
The clarification follows a wave of social media speculation and online publications suggesting a major security breach at the facility in south-west Nigeria. In a statement released on Monday, FAAN clarified that while a security operation had taken place near the airport perimeter, it did not involve an aircraft or a hijacking attempt.
“There was no part of the official press release that mentioned or suggested a ‘hijack’,” the authority stated via its social media channels. “Please refer to the official statement for accurate information.”
Misleading Images
The agency also moved to discredit a “gory” image circulating online, which had been attached to several reports of the alleged incident. FAAN confirmed the image was entirely unrelated to Akure Airport and did not represent any event at the facility.
“No such scene occurred as depicted. We urge the public to disregard these fabrications,” the agency added.
Arrests Near Perimeter
The confusion appears to have stemmed from a legitimate security operation conducted on Sunday. FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, confirmed that four suspects were apprehended following a distress alert.
Security personnel and local vigilantes spotted suspicious individuals behind the airport’s perimeter fence, heading towards the Eleyewo community. While several individuals fled the scene, four were caught and handed over to the police for interrogation.
Local police later clarified that the suspects were believed to be “logistics suppliers” for kidnapping syndicates rather than active bandits or hijackers.
Security Upgrades
The incident comes at a time of heightened focus on aviation security in Nigeria. FAAN noted that the federal government is currently accelerating the installation of modern perimeter fencing and electronic surveillance infrastructure at airports nationwide.
The authority commended the joint efforts of the airport security teams, the regional security outfit ‘Amotekun’, and local community vigilantes for their rapid response in securing the airport’s surroundings.
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