There was reportedly a security breach at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja a few weeks ago after policemen from Iddo Police Station in Abuja opened fire at the private jet wing of the facility, sources who witnessed the incident told The Bureau Newspaper.
The private jet wing of the airport serves businesses, diplomats and politicians.
According to sources, the incident occurred on October 17, 2024.
The shots were reportedly fired by a team of policemen on illegal duty led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police identified as Dauda and Assistant Superintendent of Police Usaini.
“On 17th of October, around 10pm, we started hearing gunshots. We were scared and thought they were armed robbers because they were not in police uniform,” a worker at the airport told The Bureau Newspaper.
“That was a security breach because that’s not their jurisdiction as I was told. We have a police post in the airport, so these men came in and were arresting people illegally and because some people resisted arrest, they opened fire and were shot sporadically.
“This happened after some diplomats had just arrived and were being checked in. We also had different VIP passengers waiting to board their private jets. It was a big embarrassment.”
Another employee added, “Officers from Iddo Police Station are known for harassing innocent staff of the airport despite that their jurisdiction to the airport is more than 5km. Yet, they are always disturbing the airport community, invading the airport facility to make illegal arrests.
“Extortion, unnecessary arrests and detention, that’s what they know how to do best. The police IGP and commissioner should kindly caution these police from Iddo state in Bassa; they are terrorising innocent citizens.”
However, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Iddo Police Station in Abuja, Solomon Majit, did not answer calls from The Bureau Newspaper.
He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.
The Bureau Newspaper on Sunday reported how officers from Iddo station illegally arrested over 20 Nigerians under the guise of security raids.
They were picked up in front of their houses and schools on Friday evening around Bassa area in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Bureau Newspaper gathered that the young men were handcuffed and treated by the policemen like criminals.
“I just stepped out of my house and I saw a bus parked beside me, before I knew what was happening, they forced me to enter the bus. I asked what I did and one of the officers slapped me.
“After my arrest, in same Bassa, about seven other young men were arrested in same pattern. Some were even arrested in front of a community school. From there, they moved to Sauka and picked up as many as they liked.
“It was when we got to the station that we heard that policemen from the station had been illegally arresting people just to extort them.
“They then started requesting us to pay them different amounts as bail because all of us slept in the cell till this morning. Imagine taking N50,000 from over 20 people, that’s a million naira,” one of those arrested had told The Bureau Newspaper.
Also, one of the policemen from the station lost his service rifle during the illegal raid on houses and schools around the Bassa area in the Federal Capital Territory.
The DPO of the station, Majit confirmed the incident to The Bureau Newspaper.
Speaking to The Bureau Newspaper, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Iddo Police Station in Abuja, Solomon Majit, however, said the officers were not conducting an illegal raid.
“It’s true but the gun has been recovered. We were combing the area because of the security situation in the FCT,” he said.