FG Alerts Airlines On Terrorist Attacks

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Habibu Lawal, the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina and the UN Women Representative in Nigeria, Dr Grace Ongile, at a news conference on the 2014 International Women’s Day in Abuja, yesterday

The Federal Government has raised alarm of possible terrorist attack by Boko Haram sects on Nigerian airlines to worsen the security situation in the country.
Relying on what it called ‘Intelligence Report’, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), in a memo dated 20th February, 2014, said the acquisition of Long Range Anti-Aircraft Weapons (LRAW) by the Boko Haram terrorist group was not restricted to down aircraft on the Abuja-Lagos routes but also on other routes nationwide.
The memo, with reference NSA/INT/366/5, signed by one Christopher Danjuma on behalf of the NSA, stated that terrorist attacks may include “an unsuspected suicide pilot forcefully hijacking an aircraft mid-air and flying into critical installations similar to the September 11, 2001 attack on World Trade Centre (WTC)”.
Warning all to be security alert, the memo said the terrorists could exploit the means of smuggling of explosive devices into the aircraft through the means of luggage, suicide ware (vest, belt, shoes and seemingly harmless everyday chemicals that can beat aviation security checks) explosive precursors that will be mixed in the aircraft to make explosive devices.
The memo, which also copied the aviation minister and service chiefs, listed terrorist break entry into the airports using small arms to forcefully take over an aircraft while passengers are boarding as another possible means of attack.
While the NSA noted that the movement of a completely assembled LRAW may not be easy due to its size, the memo said the terrorists may resolve to move the LRAW in parts.
Danjuma, therefore, directed all security agencies manning border posts and checkpoints in the country to look out for such weapons.
He further directed that all necessary measures should be taken to beef up security in all airports, ensure proper baggage and passengers’ checks before boarding aircraft.
The memo urged that residents of communities around airports nationwide should be sensitized on the security challenges so as to ensure adequate surveillance of the airport perimeters.
Following the NSA’s security memo, The Tide learnt that various military and para-military outfits are reportedly brainstorming and strategizing on how to abort the terrorists’ plot as security is being beefed up in and around the airports.

Sam Elenou