Security personnel at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, on Wednesday halted an attempted stowaway incident after intercepting an intruder who tried to board an Overland Airways aircraft.
The suspect, identified as Segun Martins, allegedly breached the airport’s restricted area at about 3:02 p.m. and headed toward an aircraft preparing for departure. Authorities said he attempted to hide inside the landing-gear compartment before he was spotted by ground staff.
Airport personnel swiftly intervened and apprehended him before the aircraft began taxiing. Martins was later handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation.
The incident was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, in a statement on his X account.
“He attempted to hide between the aircraft tyres as it prepared for takeoff,” Achimugu said, adding that the suspect claimed he believed the flight was headed for the United States and hoped to escape by stowing away.
Achimugu noted that investigators are now examining the security breach to determine how the intruder accessed the tarmac and whether additional safety measures are needed.
