Insecurity at airport: Man attempts stow away

Insecurity at airport: Man attempts stow away
Zainab Junaid Elesho
A middle aged man has breached the security of the Murtala Muhammed
Airports (MMA), Lagos threatening to keep hostage Medview Airlines
aircraft and passengers bound for Abuja.

The Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to Medview Airline had close to 100
passengers on board.

A top official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),
who works at the airfield of the airport, told journalists that the
incident happened at about 1.51pm when the angry man successfully
gained access to the security area of the airport using the several
leaky route in Shasha area of the airport
The source confirmed that ‘the captain of the aircraft on landing; saw
a man who was walking across the airplane, leading to the crew
blasting him which he said led to severe burns to the man,’ The man is
a director of a company at Shasha who developed madness. He was
carrying a bag. He was taken away immediately the incident happened.”
the source said

The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Yakubu Dati also
confirmed the incident to journalists stating that Vigilant Aviation
Security (AVSEC) staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN) on December 2, 2015, apprehended a man, Mr. Alabibu Olushola,
who according to him was attempting to stow away in a taxing aircraft
on the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),
Lagos.
His words, “The culprit was arrested as soon as he scaled the
perimeter fence near the moving aircraft and after interrogation by
the AVSEC staff; he was immediately handed over to the police for
further interrogation.”

“The authority wishes to remind members of the public that access to
restricted areas of the airport, including the tarmac and perimeter
roads, is prohibited for unauthorized people, including airport staff,
who have no business being there. This is more so in view of the
present security situation in the country.”

Dati reiterated that the authority would henceforth not hesitate to
arrest and prosecute any person, including unauthorised airport staff,
who is found loitering around restricted areas of airports.
The Media Consultant to Medview, Mr Obuke Oyibotha, also affirmed in a
statement that the management of Medview Airline commended the crew of
one of its flight for assisting security agencies to arrest a man at
the runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos

He explained that the action of the crew, which led to the arrest and
the return of the aircraft to the tarmac for security check was in
line with ICAO recommended best practices on aviation security.
“The Maiduguri bound aircraft via Abuja was taxing to the threshold
for take-off when the pilot sited a man on the active runway and
alerted the control tower on his observation and requested for
aviation security personnel.”

“While still taxiing, the pilot noticed that the same man has crossed
to the threshold, and was moving towards the aircraft, and had to
alert the control tower again for security. The man got entangled with
the engine thrust pilot increased the speed of the engine before he
was picked up by security agents.”
“The pilot asked for permission to return to base, where security
agencies including Bomb Disposal Squad conducted a thorough check on
all passengers, luggage and the entire aircraft and appropriate
clearance was given,” he said.