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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Police to arraign 13 for stealing building materials at Lagos airport

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement In the courts
  • The Airport Police Command in Lagos will arraign 13 suspects arrested for allegedly stealing building materials from airport construction sites.
  • The suspects were apprehended by a Joint Monitoring Task Force on July 30 during a patrol around the construction area of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
  • Police recovered high-value copper cables, iron components, and other materials, emphasizing the ongoing effort to protect critical national infrastructure.

The Airport Police Command in Lagos has announced its intention to arraign 13 suspects arrested for allegedly stealing building materials from construction sites at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The arrests were made by the Joint Monitoring Task Force on July 30 during a coordinated patrol of the airport's construction area.

The arrests were part of the commandโ€™s โ€œsustained effort to protect critical national infrastructure and prevent acts capable of undermining the ongoing rehabilitation of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.โ€

โ€” Airport Police CommandThe statement explains the purpose behind the operation that led to the arrests.

According to a statement by the command's Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, the operation was part of the command's sustained efforts to safeguard critical national infrastructure and prevent activities that could hinder the ongoing rehabilitation of the airport. Acting on credible intelligence, the task force operatives apprehended the suspects.

in possession of high-value copper cables, iron components, and other building materials recovered from the construction site.

โ€” Airport Police CommandDetails of the stolen materials recovered from the suspects.

During the arrest, operatives recovered high-value items including copper cables, iron components, and other building materials that had been taken from the construction site. The suspects were subsequently transferred to the International Airport Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.

despite the successful prosecution of several suspects arrested for similar offences in April 2026, some criminal elements continued to target the construction sites.

โ€” Airport Police CommandThe police acknowledge that theft at construction sites persists despite previous enforcement actions.

The statement identified the suspects as Ibrahim Hassan, Haruna Yaya, Ali Muhammed, Walid Shaibu, Idris Musa, Aliu Musa, Mustapha Umaru, Timothy Joseph, Isa Adamu, Musa Abdullahi Hassan, Mamuda Ibrahim, Mukhtar Aliyu, and Ibrahim Jidda. The police noted that despite previous successful prosecutions in April 2026 for similar offenses, criminal elements continue to target the construction sites. The suspects remain in police custody awaiting arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The safety and security of the airport remain a top priority.

โ€” CP Ogunbode OlufunkeThe Commissioner of Police reaffirms the command's commitment to airport security.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.