I wanted to escape to US – Stowaway says after being nabbed at Ilorin Airport
A suspected stowaway, identified as Segun Martins, was arrested on Wednesday, December 10, at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport in Ilorin after attempting to hide beneath an Overland aircraft preparing for takeoff.
The incident occurred around 3:02 p.m., when Martins allegedly gained unauthorized access to the aircraft’s underside and tried to conceal himself between its tyres.
According to initial findings, he told investigators he believed the plane was bound for the United States and attempted to flee by hiding underneath it. He was promptly apprehended by ground security personnel and handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed the development on his verified X account, stating: “At approximately 1502 hours, a male, identified as `, gained unauthorized access to the foot of an Overland aircraft that was about taxi for takeoff and attempted to conceal himself between the aircraft tyres. Ground security apprehended the individual. He was immediately handed over to the Airport Police for further investigation. Mr. Segun Martins stated that he believed the aircraft was bound for the United States of America and intended to escape by hiding on the aircraft.”
