Security breach: FAAN suspends aviation security unit heads in Lagos

FAAN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that passengers aboard a Port Harcourt-bound Azman Air flight were thrown into panic on Friday when a man climbed the aircraft while it was about to take off at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.

According to a viral video shot by one of the passengers in Lagos, the man illegally gained access to the airside with a hand luggage.

Yakubu said the suspension of the personnel was pending the completion of ongoing investigation into the regrettable security infringement.

“Following the unfortunate airside incursion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on July 19, the authority has suspended indefinitely the aviation security unit heads.

“The personnel that were suspended were on duty when the incident occurred, pending completion of ongoing investigation into the regrettable security infringement.

“The affected officers are the Airport Chief of Security, Mamman Mohammed Sadiku and International Terminal Security Officer, Oni Abiodun.

“Others are the Head of Department Domestic Terminal 2, Kenneth Okezie and Head of Department Domestic Terminal 1, Adebowale Ayodele,” she said.

Yakubu said in the interim, one of its General Managers, Dr Anne Enyinnaya-Egbadon, had been detailed to take charge of security at the airport.

ALSO READ: 5 Nigerian soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush, Army confirms

She said other affected officers had also been replaced.

Yakubu said the current arrangement was aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation towards the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity.

She added that FAAN viewed the breach as a serious security concern and had commenced investigation to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of that incident to forestall future occurrence.