Security
activities was on the high side on Tuesday as the entire Murtala
Mohammed Airport, Lagos, was put under intense screening and searchlight
for several hours, as security agencies screened all vehicles and
humans entering the cargo hajj camp of the complex.
The situation forced scores of passengers, especially
those going on the international flights, to trek to the airport in order not
to miss their scheduled flights.
When the Nigerian Tribune went round the airports, the
Nigerian Police, anti-terrorism squad, Air Force and soldiers were seen manning
the major entrance to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company area of the
airport and screening all the movements into the area.The situation, which
started around 6.00 a.m, lasted till around 1:30 p.m.
The gridlock started from the Arik Air headquarters end
and stretched as far as the NAHCo area of the airport, which is almost two
kilometres, while motorists were held up in the traffic for hours for a journey
of five minutes’ drive.
The tightened security might not be unconnected with the
fresh terrorism threat by the Al-Qaeda to attack the United States or any
aircraft going to the US.
Many people coming into the airport were disallowed from
gaining entrance while those with genuine reasons and valid
identification cards were allowed to go in.
US Airlines that fly direct to the US were forced to step
up checks on mobile phones and shoes in the light of threats of an al-Qaeda
bomb attack. US officials said terrorists had found a way to conceal incendiary
devices inside phones to avoid detection.
Passengers on flights from Europe, the Middle East and
Africa to the US were subjected to extra security checks.
According to Reuters, the undetectable devices are most
likely to be hidden in smartphones, including Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy
phones. The bombs could also be surgically implanted into an insurgent’s body
or be embedded in cloth fibres.
No comments:
Post a Comment