The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has reassured Nigerians that the recent security breach at Akure Airport was not a deliberate attack on the facility, stressing that neither the airport nor its passengers were the intended targets.
He gave the clarification during an interview on a public affairs programme on Eagles 102.5 FM in Ogun State, as concerns mount over airport safety following conflicting reports about the incident.
The controversy began after the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria announced the arrest of four suspected bandits in the vicinity of the airport.
However, the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State disputed the claim, clarifying that only two suspects—alleged logistics suppliers to kidnappers—were arrested along the Eleyewo and Ilu-Abo axis, rather than within the airport premises.
Addressing the discrepancies, the minister said the situation pointed to communication gaps common in large institutions, rather than any deliberate attempt to misinform the public.
He explained that preliminary findings suggest the individuals were fleeing a separate security incident and inadvertently gained access to the airport through a vulnerable section of the perimeter fence.
He said, “Okay, there are two angles to this. The first is the conflicting statements, and the second is why they will gain access in the first place. Sometimes you are bound to have such discrepancies because you are not physically there.”
Keyamo added, “The airport was not a target. Let us be very clear about this. In all accounts, the airport was never a target, and passengers were not a target.”
According to Keyamo, the incident highlights significant infrastructure deficiencies, particularly a compromised section of the airport’s perimeter fence that allowed intruders to gain access.
He added that such lapses are indicative of broader challenges stemming from ageing infrastructure across the nation’s airports.
He said he has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident, directing aviation security personnel to work closely with law enforcement agencies to determine the exact sequence of events.
“I have mandated them to get the true report. We cannot sit down and take the statement from the police as 100 per cent correct,” he said, stressing the need for coordination among agencies.
He further warned that any lapses in duty or security oversight uncovered during the probe would be sanctioned, stressing that accountability is essential to sustaining confidence in the aviation sector.
