FAAN suspends Lagos airport security heads over arrested stowaway

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) which started off an investigation into the stowaway incident recorded on Friday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, has suspended the security heads of the facility indefinitely.



Recall that there was a security breach at the Lagos airport yesterday morning, when an Azman flight taking off for Port Harcourt from Lagos aborted its journey after an unidentified man carrying a bag held on to the wings of the aircraft awaiting final clearance from the control towers to take off.



Speaking on the incident, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu said a thorough check was conducted on the aircraft before its eventual takeoff.


She said, “At about 1009 hours, aviation security officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria arrested an intruder who was sighted trying to climb into an Azman aircraft waiting for clearance from Air Traffic Controllers.

The pilot of the Azman aircraft with registration number 5N-HAI departing Lagos for Port Harcourt reported the incident and Avsec officials swiftly responded. The man has been apprehended and is now in Avsec’s custody. The authorities are already investigating the incident.”



The Lagos airport security heads suspended indefinitely pending the conclusion of investigation, include the Airport Chief of Security, Mamman Sadiku; International Terminal Security Officer, Oni Abiodun; Head of Department, Domestic Terminal 2, Owotor Okezie, and Head of Department, Domestic Terminal 1, Badejo Ayodele.




“In the interim, a general manager of the authority, Dr. Anne Enyinnaya-Egbadon, has been detailed to take charge of security at the airport. Other affected officers have also been replaced. The current arrangement is aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation towards the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity.

“FAAN views this breach as a serious security concern and has commenced investigation to ascertain the causes of this incident and forestall future occurrence" Yakubu added.