14 suspects arrested over theft of building materials at Lagos Airport

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 -The Airport Police Command has brought 14 suspects before a court over their alleged involvement in the theft of building materials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

A statement by the command said the suspects were arrested on April 20, 2026, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at Terminal 1 of the airport, which is currently under renovation. The arrest was carried out by the Joint Monitoring Task Force (JMTF), a joint security team made up of officers from the Airport Police Command and other security agencies, during a routine patrol.

According to the command, the arrest followed repeated reports from project managers handling the renovation work, who had complained about the continuous disappearance of building materials within the Terminal 1 area. This led to tighter surveillance and increased patrols around the location.

On the night of the operation, security operatives acted on credible intelligence that some unauthorised persons were inside the restricted construction zone, leading to an immediate response by the task force.

When officers arrived at the scene, they arrested 14 suspects identified as Muhammed Sadiq, Aliu Umaru, Nuhu Muhammed, Adam Muhammed, Husaini Garuba, Suleman Umaru, Muhammed Musa, Ali Ali, Haruna Adamu, Umaru Musa, Henry Kumasen, Aliu Umaru, Idris Umaru, and Bakura Mustapha.

They were found with stolen items, including high-value copper wires, iron materials, and other construction equipment. Investigations further revealed that the suspects allegedly gained access to the site by posing as workers of the construction company, thereby violating existing security measures.

After investigations were concluded, the suspects were charged before the Magistrate Court for Special Offences in Oshodi, Lagos, on April 21, 2026.

Thirteen of the accused persons pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year and seven months in prison. The remaining suspect pleaded not guilty and has been remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to June 16, 2026.

The Commissioner of Police for the Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, praised the Joint Monitoring Task Force for their quick response and professionalism.

“Their swift action reinforces the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against criminal activities within the aviation environment,” she said.

She also restated the command’s commitment to continued cooperation with relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety, security, and protection of airport operations.