TheCable

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has handed over 21 suspected touts and scavengers arrested at the premises of the Lagos airport to the police.

FAAN said the arrest was made as part of the efforts to sanitise the airport environment and get rid of touts carrying out illegal activities.

In a statement on Sunday, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, director of public affairs and consumer protection at FAAN, said the 21 suspects were arrested during a raid of the Lagos airport premises on Friday.

“The joint monitoring task force (JMTF) and the Aviation Security Crime Investigation and Intelligence (AVSEC-CII) unit has since the past few weeks conducted raids in this regard,” Yakubu-Funtua said.

“Cable thieves and other miscreants have been apprehended in the course of these raids.

“On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) JMTF and AVSEC-CII raided the ITZ 1 and 2 landside, the car parks and the airport access roads.

“In the course of the raid, a total of 21 persons, including touts, illegal foreign exchange dealers, hawkers and scavengers were arrested.

“The apprehended suspects have since been transferred to the Nigerian Police Force through the CII for further necessary action.”

On July 21, the aviation authority announced that security operatives arrested a suspected underground electric cable thief at the Lagos airport.

On July 28, three suspected underground electric cable thieves were arrested at the Lagos airport.

Prior to the arrests, FAAN had announced that the airfield ground lighting systems recently installed at the domestic runway (18L/36R) of MMIA in Lagos, were taken by suspected thieves.