Panic at Airport: Bandits Chase Farmers Onto Runway in Akure Before Security Forces Arrest Four

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Tension gripped residents and aviation officials on Sunday after suspected bandits chased fleeing farmers from nearby farmlands onto the runway area of Akure Airport, triggering an emergency security operation that ended with the arrest of four suspects.

The frightening incident occurred on the afternoon of March 15, 2026, near the Eleiyewo community when airport officials monitoring the perimeter noticed unusual movements close to the runway.

Air traffic controllers reportedly observed terrified farmers running toward the airport boundary while being pursued by armed men believed to be bandits operating in the surrounding bush areas.

The alarming development prompted an immediate distress alert and triggered a rapid multi-agency security response.

Security personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Security unit, the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun Corps, and local vigilantes quickly mobilized to secure the airport and pursue the suspects.

Witnesses said security operatives combed dense forests and thick vegetation surrounding the airport facility in a coordinated search operation.

After an intense pursuit, four suspects attempting to escape were arrested and taken into custody.

Authorities confirmed that the suspects have been handed over to the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force for interrogation as investigations continue.

Officials have not yet revealed the identities of the suspects or confirmed whether weapons were recovered during the operation.

In a statement released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Henry Agbebire, praised the swift cooperation among the security agencies which he said prevented the situation from escalating.

According to FAAN, no flights were disrupted during the incident and no passengers or airport workers were harmed.

However, the dramatic intrusion has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of airport perimeter security across Nigeria.

Aviation security experts have repeatedly warned that weak fencing around some airports allows unauthorized access from nearby communities and forests.

FAAN said the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already begun implementing modern perimeter fencing and upgraded surveillance systems at airports nationwide to address the problem.

The incident also highlights growing insecurity in parts of Ondo State, where communities around Akure have experienced a series of kidnappings and attacks in recent months.

Residents in areas such as Ilu-Abo and Eleiyewo have previously raised alarm about armed groups operating in nearby forests, forcing some schools to temporarily close due to safety concerns.

Despite the scare, FAAN reassured travelers that aviation safety remains a top priority and that security agencies will continue to intensify surveillance around airport facilities.

Authorities have also urged residents with useful information about the suspects or criminal activities in the area to report to security agencies.