Bomb scare: Motorists frisked at Lagos airport

Posted by admin Headlines, Lagos, State News Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Motorists and airport users yesterday evening were subjected to watertight security checks along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Lagos following intelligence report that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may strike at the airport.
Though policemen, aviation security personnel and Air Force officials usually conduct regular checks along the international airport road, yesterday’s screening was unusual and it caused a very long traffic snarl.

Every vehicle going to the international wing was thoroughly screened and in some instances, passengers and motorists alighted for complete frisking. When Daily Sun visited the international terminal, armed policemen in uniform and some others in mufti manned the two main entrances. Scores of passengers who were caught up in the horrendous traffic situation were aloof of the situation and lamented that they were likely to miss their flights.

One of them, Ebere Okere said: “My brother, you are at the airport, please what is happening? We have been in traffic for over two hours and we are not out of it yet. I have a flight to catch to Accra and am worried. I know there are traffic here at times but this one is something else,” he said. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in conjunction with other security agencies at the airport had beefed up security around the airports, especially after the UN Abuja building was bombed by Boko Haram.

The new security measures had led to deeper profiling of passengers and people who came into the airport.
Those who had no genuine business around the airport were turned back. Closed Circuit Television had also been mounted at strategic areas within the airport environment, while vehicles not properly packed were immediately towed away.

-Sunwp_posts