SAN FRANCISCO, August 18, (THEWILL) – Security operatives Monday took a man who was wearing canisters around his neck into custody over fears that he was planning to blow up CENTREX, an annex office of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and commercial hub.
When news of the development broke there was panic and chaos at the airport as people feared that the Boko Haram, a terrorist group responsible for several bombings in Nigeria, had targeted the airport.
Witnesses said security operatives at the facility were suspicious when they saw the man struggling with something around his neck and when they questioned him about his presence at the facility his explanation was unsatisfactory so they detained him.
The development heightened security procedures at the airport and environs.
NAMA General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele in a statement on the incident said, “The attention of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has been drawn to insinuations that a suspected suicide bomber was arrested at one of the agency’s facilities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday.
“The basic truth however, is that the said suspect was on the ground making phone calls along the airport road close to CENTREX, an annex office of NAMA when the agency’s security personnel accosted him and questioned his presence.
“His incoherent explanation exposed him to the security personnel who later found on him some devices suspected to be explosives. He was subsequently handed over to the Airport Police Command for further investigation…”
There has been no formal statement from the police force on the incident.
