Security officials at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have arrested two passengers for being in possession of arms at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
While speaking to newsmen, FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, disclosed that the arrests were made on Wednesday and Thursday last week respectively.
According to Dati, the passenger who was arrested at the international wing of the airport, MMIA, Lagos flew in from Maryland en route Atlanta Georgia, USA about 4.00pm on Wednesday.
“The passenger claimed that the gun was brought in from the USA for his personal protection while in Nigeria.
He claimed to have declared the gun to the airline before checking in his luggage at the airport.The pistol did not pose any threat to any passenger at the time of seizure.
Aviation security personnel of the authority have continued to work hand in hand with other security agents to ensure the security of lives and property at airports nationwide,” Dati said.
On the other hand, Dati explained that the other passenger who was apprehended with a pistol in his check-in luggage on an Aero Contractors flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Thursday, also claimed that he brought the pistol from the USA for his personal protection during his stay in Aba, Abia State where he would spend his holiday.
He revealed that though the passenger tendered the receipt for the purchase of the gun, the arm was handed over to security agents for further investigation.