14 Arrested, Sentenced Over Massive Theft at Lagos Airport Renovation Site

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Security operatives have dismantled a theft ring operating inside the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leading to the arrest and prosecution of 14 suspects accused of stealing building materials from a major renovation project.

The suspects were picked up on the evening of April 20, 2026, during a coordinated patrol by the Joint Monitoring Task Force at Terminal 1 of the airport, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.

According to the Airport Police Command, the operation was triggered after repeated complaints from project managers who noticed consistent disappearance of construction materials from the site.

Acting on intelligence, officers stormed a restricted section of the terminal and arrested the suspects, who were allegedly found with stolen copper wires, iron rods, and other construction equipment linked to the ongoing project.

Investigators say the group gained access to the secure zone by disguising themselves as legitimate workers attached to the renovation company, allowing them to bypass initial security checks.

The suspects were subsequently charged before a Magistrate Court for Special Offences in Oshodi, where the case was heard on April 21, 2026. Court proceedings moved quickly after most of the defendants entered guilty pleas.

Thirteen of the accused were convicted and handed a sentence of one year and seven months imprisonment, while one suspect who pleaded not guilty was remanded in custody, with the case adjourned to June 16, 2026.

The Commissioner of Police for the Airport Command, Olufunke Ogunbode, commended the swift intervention of the task force, describing the operation as a clear signal of zero tolerance for criminal activity within aviation facilities.

She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tightening security across airport installations and working closely with stakeholders to protect critical infrastructure and ongoing projects.