The international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos was thrown into chaos yesterday as heavily armed personnel of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) raided and sealed off offices, confiscate wares and created fear among passengers and other airport users.
Led by the Airport Commandant, Group Captain Victor Ajiboye, the NAF personnel, a source who preferred anonymity, told newsmen that the raid was occasioned by a tip-off about an attack on the airport by terrorists using any of the kiosks or bureau de change offices.
Some of the offices that were shut included Sulah Bureau de Change, Kings Bureau De Change, Vida Sem, Westgate Pharmacy, Kilimanjaro Eatery, Global Link Mini market , Eddy Burger, Famous Link , and Leader Investment Company Limited.
However, an official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who craved anonymity decried the raid describing it as “unauthorized” adding that aviation security officials were not carried along.
He also said apart from the chief security officer of the airport, the other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, and Nigeria Customs Service were taken aback by the operation.
He said it was wrong for the NAF personnel to sideline the other security agencies in the exercise stressing that the business premises raided belonged to concessionaires who pay rent and other charges to FAAN.
Blueprint gathered that during the raid airport workers who did not have their on-duty cards on them fled the departure to avoid being manhandled by the NAF officials.
