Passengers and crew of an Abuja-bound
aircraft flight 5N MJE belonging to Arik Air which took off from Maiduguri were thrown into panic yesterday when a
passenger behaving in a strange manner stood up and screamed Allahu
Akbar(God is great) midair. The passenger identified as Aminu Galadima a native of Minna, Niger State, was quickly rushed and searched by the other passengers to check if he had a
bomb strapped to his body, luckily no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.
The pilot of the
aircraft immediately radio the Air
Traffic Control and airport security operatives. The Special Assistant to the Minister of
Aviation on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, confirmed the incident saying the passenger in question went
through the necessary security checks at the airport and did not raise
any suspicion until he started shouting midair.
The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja at exactly 12.53pm 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, and no trace of bomb or explosives was found. The aircraft
went back to service immediately. The suspect was handed over to the SSS at
about 14.45pm for interrogation and later released after police ascertained that he is an interior decorator with a history of mental
illness. Mr Galadima was released after investigators were satisfied
that he had no intentions of blowing up the plane and also had no ties
to any terrorist group.
It is becoming increasingly terrifying to fly these days, God help us all.
