Customs men batter FAAN security officials at Lagos Airport

LAGOS—Sixteen days after a Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, officer was beaten comatose by Air Force officials, five security staff of the agency were also brutalised yesterday by men of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Colonel Carl Onalu, Chief Security Officer, Lagos Airport, said: “The customs men were entering the restricted areas of the airport.

“They were in uniform, but without reflective jackets and On-Duty-Card, ODC.

“Our officers said they will not allow them go to the air side without the appropriate uniform, which they resisted and descended on our men. The uniform does not grant you access to restricted areas of the airport.

“What happened was unfortunate and I have called the airport commissioner of police and even the headquarters of Customs service in Abuja is already aware of this.

Apologies, arrests, meeting “Everybody is interested in the case and there would be a security meeting to deliberate on this issue.”

He added that FAAN management had seen its Customs service counterpart, who apologised for the incident.

He said: “Those concerned have been arrested and issued queries. But we are also requesting for the copy of the disciplinary action that would be meted out to the officers that perpetuated this act for our record purpose.

“As I speak with you, even the headquarters at Abuja has already called and the CAC too is very sorry about what happened and they promised that this will never happen again.”

On measures to prevent a recurrence, Onalu said: “We are going to call airport security meeting and we will ensure that this act will never happen again.

“At the higher level, there is good working relationship, but there is a disconnect at the lower level. Everybody has a role to play at the airport. There are rules governing every action.”

Speaking also on the incident, the Deputy Comptroller, Customs, Mr. Mohammed Nurudeen Musa, said investigation was going on to ascertain what happened between the Customs men and the FAAN officials.

He said: “We cannot speculate about what happened today until investigation is concluded.”

Musa said the relationship between the Customs men and other security agencies at the airport was cordial.

Vanguard