Suspected thieves were caught red-handed attempting to steal an underground armoured cable that serves the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Friday. The thieves were spotted by Nigeria Airforce guards on duty around the airport perimeter fence area as they dug the underground cable belonging to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Upon being sighted by the guards, the suspects tried to flee the scene, but one of them was shot in the arms before being apprehended. The incident occurred just two weeks after airfield lighting cables were stolen from the runway of the MMIA’s international wing.
In recent times, the airport has experienced security breaches, with unauthorized individuals gaining access through perimeter fence areas. This has prompted authorities to implement various security measures to address the issue.
Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at FAAN, confirmed the arrest of one suspect named Usman Musa, a 28-year-old resident of Ijora, originally from Adamawa State. Musa was shot during the arrest and is currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Oyingbo.
FAAN believes that this incident could provide valuable information in unraveling the theft of the Runway Lighting at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Further investigation will be conducted once the suspect has stabilized and is able to be properly interrogated.
