ABUJA— There was apprehension on board an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja yesterday.
The apprehension spread to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following allegation that a passenger on board the commercial flight from Maiduguri to Abuja, was laden with explosives.
The suspect, whose name was given as Aminu Galadima, a native of Minna in Niger State, had boarded the flight marked 5N MJE from the Borno State capital and was on his way to Abuja when he started behaving strangely in the aircraft.
The man was reported to have started chanting ‘God is Great! God is Great!, thereby raising suspicion that he might be a potential terrorist bent on blowing up the plane with the passengers and crew.
Anxious passengers, who saw the unruly behaviour of the passenger, raised alarm and apprehended the man.
The pilot was said to have immediately contacted the Air Traffic Control Tower and security agencies, alerting them that they had a security scare on board and pleaded with them to take actions to apprehend the passenger as soon as the plane landed.
Surprisingly, when the plane landed at about 12:53 p.m and a thorough search carried out on the man by security agents and fellow passengers showed that no dangerous item was found on him.
Despite that, the suspect was promptly handed over to the operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, for further interrogation.
He was yet to be released as at press time.
The ministry and the SSS, in separate statements in Abuja, clarified that the passenger after going through all mandatory security screenings behaved abnormally but that nothing incriminating, explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.
The statement by the Ministry of Aviation read in part: “Mid air, the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming Allah Akubar ‘God is Great.’ Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.
“The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect handed over to the SSS at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated.
“We wish to reassure the flying public of the continued focus of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the safety and security of the nation’s airspace, while cautioning fellow Nigerians on spreading dangerous rumours. These rumours do not help to make our airspace either safer or more secured.”
“On Friday, October 19, 2012, wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla Jidda, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. Galadima, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.
“The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the hotel management, the subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that Galadima has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.
“On Sunday, October 21, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified.
“Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the airport on October 23 for his return trip, the management of the airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off. Meanwhile, Galadima is in the custody of security forces.
“This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.”
The statement read: “To set the records straight, a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“Frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious thinking the man was about to do something sinister.
“All the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had all gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone.
“However, when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing incriminating was found on him. A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately.
“Arik Air wishes to assure guests that all its flights undergo strict security checks and passengers have nothing to fear. The airline’s Aviation Security Department is one the most sophisticated in the industry and its commitment to security and safety of passengers is second to none in Africa.”
The suspect, whose name was given as Aminu Galadima, a native of Minna in Niger State, had boarded the flight marked 5N MJE from the Borno State capital and was on his way to Abuja when he started behaving strangely in the aircraft.
The man was reported to have started chanting ‘God is Great! God is Great!, thereby raising suspicion that he might be a potential terrorist bent on blowing up the plane with the passengers and crew.
Anxious passengers, who saw the unruly behaviour of the passenger, raised alarm and apprehended the man.
The pilot was said to have immediately contacted the Air Traffic Control Tower and security agencies, alerting them that they had a security scare on board and pleaded with them to take actions to apprehend the passenger as soon as the plane landed.
Surprisingly, when the plane landed at about 12:53 p.m and a thorough search carried out on the man by security agents and fellow passengers showed that no dangerous item was found on him.
Despite that, the suspect was promptly handed over to the operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, for further interrogation.
He was yet to be released as at press time.
Suspect mentally unstable —Aviation Ministry
Reacting to the development, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the State Security Service, SSS, said the man was mentally unstable.The ministry and the SSS, in separate statements in Abuja, clarified that the passenger after going through all mandatory security screenings behaved abnormally but that nothing incriminating, explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.
The statement by the Ministry of Aviation read in part: “Mid air, the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming Allah Akubar ‘God is Great.’ Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.
“The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect handed over to the SSS at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated.
“We wish to reassure the flying public of the continued focus of the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the safety and security of the nation’s airspace, while cautioning fellow Nigerians on spreading dangerous rumours. These rumours do not help to make our airspace either safer or more secured.”
The SSS account
The SSS account of the incident was more detailed.The statement by its spokesperson, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar reads in full: “This is a brief highlight of the incident that occurred on the Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja.“On Friday, October 19, 2012, wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla Jidda, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. Galadima, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.
“The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the hotel management, the subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that Galadima has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.
“On Sunday, October 21, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified.
“Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the airport on October 23 for his return trip, the management of the airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off. Meanwhile, Galadima is in the custody of security forces.
“This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.”
Arik dismisses claim as hoax
Corroborating the Federal Government’s clarification, Arik Air said in a statement last night that there was no iota of truth in the rumour.The statement read: “To set the records straight, a passenger on board flight W3 812 from Maiduguri to Abuja caused a scare when he started shouting Allah Akbar shortly before the aircraft landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
“Frightened passengers on board the flight became suspicious thinking the man was about to do something sinister.
“All the passengers on board the flight, including the man in question, had all gone through the normal security check at the Maiduguri International Airport and nothing incriminating was found on anyone.
“However, when the aircraft landed in Abuja, another security check was conducted on the passenger and nothing incriminating was found on him. A further security search was conducted on the operating aircraft, a Boeing 737-700 NG (Next Generation) and no trace of bomb or explosives were found. The aircraft went back to service immediately.
“Arik Air wishes to assure guests that all its flights undergo strict security checks and passengers have nothing to fear. The airline’s Aviation Security Department is one the most sophisticated in the industry and its commitment to security and safety of passengers is second to none in Africa.”
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