The operators of the Murtala Muhammed domestic terminal two (MMA2), Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), 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 subsequently arrested by Aviation security personnel.
BASL in a statement has identified the stowaway as Rasheed Mufutau, a 14-year-old indigene of Kwara State based in Badagry, Lagos.
Going by the statement, the suspect “is now safe in the custody of the airport authority where he is being held for further investigation.”
The trespasser was said to have told investigators that he was tired of the country and wanted to travel out.
Oluwatosin Onalaja, Head of Media at BASL, in a statement, disclosed that the boy told investigators that he gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile-Zik, FAAN’s perimeter fence along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
The statement said: “At around 6:10 a.m. 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 10:20 am.
“Upon further interrogation by a combined team of BASL AVSEC and FAAN Aviation Security Officers, the following information was obtained from the boy; His name is Rasheed Mufutau, a 14-years-old boy who lives in Badagry but hails from Kwara State.
“He is an orphan. Muftau gained access into the airside through an opening at Ile- Zik along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway and he intended to travel, as he was tired of the country.
“He passed through General Aviation Terminal, Air Force hanger and walked down to MMA2 where he hid 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 a lack of ventilation.”
The Airline has since commenced normal operations.
“We are an active part of the ongoing investigation to ascertain exactly what happened and to aid the prevention of any such occurrence in the future.
“The safety and comfort of our customers remain our utmost priority and we continue to ensure that the MMA2 terminal remains a safe zone of operation,” Onalaja added.
