A suspected suicide bomber was Monday arrested by security operatives at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. The yet-to-be-identified physically-challenged suspect was apprehended with suspected explosives around his neck at the annex office of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, office located inside the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Unconfirmed report said he was arrested while attempting to detonate the explosives. The suspect who later handed over to the police by Airport security operatives, was subsequently taken to the Airport Police headquarters along the Ikeja- Airport road.
Reacting to the incidence, NAMA General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Supo Atobatele, said the disabled suspect was on the ground making phone calls and when accosted, his incoherent explanation led to his arrest by security operatives.
According to Atobatele, “The attention of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, 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 (yesterday). 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 and questioned him.
“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. The Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam has commended the security personnel for their vigilance and prompt arrest of the suspect.”
Efforts to get response from the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command proved abortive as reporters were told that the police was still investigating the matter.
Due to the incident, security has been beefed up at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN gates as people going in and out of the premises were thoroughly screened while their bags were searched by security operatives.