NAN-H-15
Counter-terrorism
By Adekunle Williams/Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Murtala Muhammed Airport Police Command has lauded Tuesday’s counter-terrorism simulation conducted by security agencies at the departure hall of the international wing of the airport.
The command Spokesman, DSP Joseph Alabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the officers involved displayed professionalism during the 45-minute exercise.
NAN reports that the agencies involved in the exercise include the police, Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Others are the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Security (FAAN AVSEC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, police anti–bomb squad and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Alabi said that the exercise was to assure Nigerians that security agencies were capable of handling any terrorist attack at the airport.
He said: “The exercise was fantastic. The role played by the air force and police anti-bomb squad is very commendable.
“The anti-bomb squad brought a robotic device here which can on its own to detect any bomb hidden within the terminal.”
Alabi assured travellers and other airport users that the airport was safe and secure due to ongoing collaboration among security agencies.
He noted that some people were frightened by the simulation.
“There was an announcement on radio about the exercise. Even at the airport here, there were series of announcement that the exercise was going to take place, and that people should not be scared.
“So, it is probably because they did not hear the information that made them to be scared,” the spokesman said.
NAN reports that in the simulation, a terrorist group took over the departure hall of the airport at noon, shooting sporadically and holding some people hostage.
A NAF helicopter with registration number 565 dropped men from the Special Forces on the roof of the terminal.
The officers were able to rescue the hostages and overpower the terrorists after a gun duel that lasted for some minutes.
The arrested terrorists, who wore masks, were later led into a waiting military van and taken to an undisclosed location. (NAN)
WAC/ASO/AOS/IGO
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(Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Ijeoma Popoola)