Operatives of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) attached to Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos have arrested a man suspected for theft of underground armoured cable at the Lagos Airport.
A statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua said some persons who were digging the ground with digger, shovels and cutlass near the perimeter fence of the Airport, were halted by military personnel at about 01:35hrs on Friday July 21,2023 but on sighting the military guards, they took to their heels in a bid to escape arrest but one of the guards aimed the shoulder of one of the suspects and demobilized him while two of his suspected accomplices escaped.
“AT about 01:35hrs on July 21, 2023, the guards on duty at the Nigeria Airforce HQ NADC gate halted three cable thieves along the airport road by NADC perimeter fence who were sighted digging the FAAN underground amoured cable with the aid of a digger, shovel and cutlass.
“On sighting the guards, they took to their heels, a guard however opened fire on them ,aiming at the shoulder of Usman Musa.
“Usman Musa , 28years old, a native of Adamawa State, residing at Ijora sustained gunshot wounds. He was subsequently arrested and taken to 661NAFH Ikeja,” the statement added.
“On sighting the guards, they took to their heels, a guard however opened fire on them ,aiming at the shoulder of Usman Musa. However two of the suspects escaped,” the statement added.
The suspect is currently receiving treatment at General Hospital Oyingbo while his other two accomplices escaped.
The statement said Usman Musa will be properly interrogated after he has stabilised.
The statement further said, “the Authority believes that this incident could be a relevant clue to unravelling the theft of the Runway Lighting at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.”
It would be recalled that about three weeks ago that the Runway Lighting cable at the airport was stolen by yet to be identified thieves; leading to the suspension of many Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel from duties at the airport, while the Regional General Manager (RGM) South West Airports, Mr. Felix Akinbinu was redeployed to Airfield Operations. Akinbinu has since been replaced by former General Manager, Airfield Operations, Mr Sunday Ayodele
