14-year-old attempting stowaway nabbed at Lagos airport

The Airport Police Command says it has intercepted a 14-year-old boy, identified as Eke Miracle, in connection with an attempted stowaway incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

This was contained in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Mohammed Adeola, and made available on Monday.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the minor had unlawfully gained entry into a restricted zone of the airport without authorisation, in violation of existing aviation safety regulations. The teenage boy was nabbed on the airport tarmac, an incident that questions the viability of the country’s airport security.

This incident adds to the growing list of related crimes at Nigerian aerodromes. In December 2025, a man was caught aboard Overland Airways attempting to stow away. The same was also discovered aboard a KLM flight from Lagos to Amsterdam early in 2023

Authorities described the teenager’s action as an offence considered highly dangerous, both to the individual involved and to aviation operations.

Speaking on the development, the command’s publicist stated that the boy was promptly intercepted before he could cause further security complications.

“The minor was discovered on the airport tarmac while attempting to unlawfully gain access beneath an aircraft, an act which constitutes a serious breach of aviation security protocols within a highly sensitive operational environment,” the Command said.

Adeola further said that the teenager’s actions contravened Sections 2 and 3 of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria byelaws, which prohibit unauthorised access to restricted airport areas.

Following his interception, the police said the boy was taken into protective custody, with due consideration given to his age and welfare.

The Command further stressed that the teenager was treated humanely throughout the process, with attention given to his wellbeing.

The statement reads partly, “Upon interception, the minor was taken into protective custody in line with due process and established child protection procedures. His parents were promptly notified, and all necessary protocols were observed, including conducting the interview in their presence.

“We ensured that the minor was provided with appropriate care, support, and welfare considerations throughout the process.”

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, reiterated the Command’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s aviation infrastructure, describing airports as critical national assets that must be protected at all times.

While assuring that due process would be followed, the police commissioner also used the opportunity to call on parents and guardians to be more vigilant.

“The airport is a highly sensitive environment, and strict adherence to security regulations is non-negotiable. We urge parents and guardians to exercise greater vigilance over their children and wards, particularly in relation to movements around restricted and high-risk environments such as airports,” she said.

The command disclosed that the case would be handled in line with juvenile justice procedures, noting that the minor would be charged before the appropriate juvenile court.

Culled from punch