How 14-year-old breached Lagos airport security to enter aircraft

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Domestic Terminal Two of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday, cleared the air on the stowaway found inside an aircraft at the airport on Sunday. The stowaway was found inside a United Nigeria Airlines plane during a pre-flight check and was arrested by Aviation Security […]

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of the Domestic Terminal Two of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday, cleared the air on the stowaway found inside an aircraft at the airport on Sunday.

The stowaway was found inside a United Nigeria Airlines plane during a pre-flight check and was arrested by Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel.

BASL, in a statement, identified the stowaway as Rasheed Mufutau (14), indigene of Kwara State, who lives in Badagry, Lagos.

BASL said the suspect “is now safe in the custody of the airport authority where he is being held for further investigation.”

The invader was said to have told investigators that he was tired of the country and wanted to travel out.

The statement by Head of Media at BASL, Oluwatosin Onalaja, disclosed that the boy told investigators that he gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile-Zik, FAAN’s perimetre fence along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The statement reads in part: “At around 6am on Sunday, 4th September, 2022, United Nigeria (the airline) informed Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd (BASL) of a 14-year-old stowaway boy found unconscious inside one of their aircraft.

“The boy was brought out of the aircraft and taken to the MMA2 clinic for first aid medical attention. He was later transferred for further treatment to the FAAN clinic where he regained consciousness at 10:20am.

“Upon further interrogation by a combined team of BASL, AVSEC and FAAN officers, the following information was obtained from the boy:

“His name is Rasheed Mufutau. He is 14 years old. He lives in Badagry but hails from Kwara State. He is an orphan. He gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile-Zik along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. His intention was to travel as he was tired of the country. He passed through the General Aviation Terminal, air force hanger, and walked down to MMA2 where he hid himself at the apron. He saw staff on duty at GAT and air force hanger but dodged them and passed through the bush. He became unconscious as a result of the drugs he took and lack of ventilation.”

According to the statement, the boy has been discharged from the hospital and taken to the FAAN crime office at the airport.

The statement further reads: “We are an active part of the ongoing investigation to ascertain exactly what happened and to aid the prevention of any such occurrence.”