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There
was pandemonium at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Murtala
Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) on Friday following a gunshot
which was believed to be an accidental discharge.
Two
people were injured in the incident when a man identified as an orderly
of a Senator accidentally fired the gunshots, it was learnt. He was
trying to remove the magazine of his gun when the discharge occurred
leaving him and another woman injured.
people were injured in the incident when a man identified as an orderly
of a Senator accidentally fired the gunshots, it was learnt. He was
trying to remove the magazine of his gun when the discharge occurred
leaving him and another woman injured.
The incident also caused panic within the terminal as travelers and airport workers scampered for safety on hearing the gunshot.
Eyewitness
report indicated that the security man was to travel on Arik Air and he
wanted to dislodge the magazine from the gun in line with standard
practice in air travel but incidentally the gun released its bullet. It
hit him and the woman on the leg, it was gathered.
report indicated that the security man was to travel on Arik Air and he
wanted to dislodge the magazine from the gun in line with standard
practice in air travel but incidentally the gun released its bullet. It
hit him and the woman on the leg, it was gathered.
An
eyewitness said, “It is a standard practice in air travel for anyone
with a gun to pull out the bullet. This is what the security man was
trying to do but incidentally the gun released the magazine which
splattered and hit him and the woman on the leg as he bent down to pull
out the magazine from the gun”.
eyewitness said, “It is a standard practice in air travel for anyone
with a gun to pull out the bullet. This is what the security man was
trying to do but incidentally the gun released the magazine which
splattered and hit him and the woman on the leg as he bent down to pull
out the magazine from the gun”.
They,
however, trekked out of the terminal to the vehicle that conveyed them
to the hospital without any assistance. According to the source, the
injury was not that severe.
however, trekked out of the terminal to the vehicle that conveyed them
to the hospital without any assistance. According to the source, the
injury was not that severe.
General
Manager, Public Affairs of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident. He said what transpired
was an accident which occurred while the man was trying to remove the
magazine from his gun as a standard procedure because guns are not
allowed on-board aircraft but they are usually checked in, in the
luggage compartment.
Manager, Public Affairs of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria
(FAAN), Mr. Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident. He said what transpired
was an accident which occurred while the man was trying to remove the
magazine from his gun as a standard procedure because guns are not
allowed on-board aircraft but they are usually checked in, in the
luggage compartment.
Dati,
who described the incident as minor, assured air travellers that all
the airports are safe and secure, adding that in recognition of the
security challenges in the country and around the world, security at
Nigerian airports has been fortified.
who described the incident as minor, assured air travellers that all
the airports are safe and secure, adding that in recognition of the
security challenges in the country and around the world, security at
Nigerian airports has been fortified.
