The passengers, mostly from Lagos and going on hajj, reportedly scampered after sighting the abandoned bag
- The passengers got more scared as officials could not find the owner of the bag
- The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said the bag contained some Islamic guides
Passengers took to their heels to save themselves from a possible explosion after an abandoned bag caused serious panic at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday, August 8.
The Guardian reports that the Muslim pilgrims from Lagos who waited to be airlifted thought the luggage could contain Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The fear was heightened with the failure of officials to actually tell who the owner of the bag was.
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The report quoted an official at the terminal, who simply identified himself as Emeka, as describing the moment as scary.
However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reacted saying the claim was not true.
Through its general manager in charge of corporate affairs, Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN confirmed that the bag was actually noticed the hajj and cargo terminal after the departure of the fourth flight.
“The Chief Security Officer of the Federal Airports Authority, Hajj and Cargo Terminal as well as the Bomb Disposal Unit were contacted and the process of finding out the owner and the content of the bag immediately began.
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“No one claimed ownership of the bag, so the decision to blow up the bag using an explosive device was made, which in turn caused some panic among the second batch of intending pilgrims,” FAAN said.
The government agency said the bag was found to contain some copies of an Islamic guide meant for the pilgrims to expedite their journey.
"The Authority would like to assure the general public that there was no bomb and the Hajj and Cargo Terminal is safe for flight operations,” FAAN said.
NAIJ.com reported in January, 2017, how Lagos witnessed another bomb scare in the Agege area of the state with the commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, dismissing the claim.
The report said that Owoseni, who briefed reporters at the end of the monthly Security Council Meeting chaired by Governor Akinwumi Ambode, said what the police thought to be a bomb was actually piece of thrash stuck into a manhole.
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