‘Man who mysteriously appeared on departing aircraft at MMIA is from Niger Republic’

A man who breached security at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday has been identified as a citizen of Niger Republic.
The man caused panic when he climbed an Azman Air aircraft at the airport.
Police at the airport identified him as Usman Adamu from neighbouring Republic of Niger.
The spokesperson for the Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, disclosed the identity of the 32-year-old Nigerien.
Alabi said the Nigerien, who is currently being held by the command, could not speak or understand English Language.
He, however, said investigation was still ongoing to ascertain how Adamu gained access to the heavily restricted area at the airport.
NAN reports that passengers aboard a Port Harcourt-bound Azman Air flight were thrown into panic on Friday after Adamu climbed the aircraft while it was about to take off at the MMIA.
According to video clips taken by one of the passengers, Adamu was seen entering the fuselage of the aircraft with a hand luggage and also climbing one of its wings.
He was later apprehended by Aviation Security Personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and taken to its detention facility, before the case was transferred to the Police for further investigation.
Following the development, FAAN gave an indefinite suspension to the Aviation Security Unit heads who were on duty when the incident occurred.
FAAN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, had in a statement, said the agency viewed the breach as a serious security concern.
She said FAAN had begun investigation to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the incident to forestall future occurrence.
Yakubu said the suspension of the personnel was pending the completion of investigation into the security infringement.
NAN reports that the affected officers include the Airport Chief of Security, Mamman Mohammed Sadiku, and International Terminal Security Office, Oni Abiodun.
Others are Head of Department, Domestic Terminal 2, Kenneth Okezie and Head of Department, Domestic Terminal 1, Adebowale Ayodele.
Yakubu disclosed that in the interim, a General Manager, Dr Anne Enyinnaya-Egbadon, had been detailed to take charge of security at the airport.
She explained that other affected officers had also been replaced.
She said the current arrangement was aimed at ensuring an efficient and thorough investigation toward the recovery and sustenance of the airport’s proactive security integrity
Meanwhile, the News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the Federal Airport Authority has assured travellers and airport users that new measures were being put in place to enhance security at the nation’s airports.
FAAN’s Managing Director, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu made this known in a statement through its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, in Lagos on Saturday.
Yadudu made the disclosure at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airports due to the unfortunate incident at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Yadudu said the violator, who was suspected to be a Nigerien, had been identified as Mr Usman Adamu and had been handed over to the Police for further interrogation.
The managing director said the authority took full responsibility for the breach.
Yadudu noted that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transport, had already assisted in the award of contracts for perimeter fences at the airports, including detection devices and CCTV cameras with infrared capacity for night operations.
He stated that plans were also underway to erect observation towers this year to enable proper monitor and coverage of the airport.
“FAAN has a security patrol/escort team in place for arriving and departing aircraft but another joint patrol team involving FAAN, AVSEC and the Police,” he said.
He said the Military has also been constituted to assist in protecting the sanctity of the airside and ensuring the security of operations and travellers using its facilities.