200 Terrorists Attack Kaduna Airport, One Dead, Ground Lagos-Bound Aircraft

• Terrorists numbering over 200 had invaded the runway of Kaduna Airport and killed a security man attached to NAMA staff

• The army were said to have engaged them in another gun battle, but the terrorists were undaunting, insisting the airport must be shut

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that armed bandits numbering over 200 invaded the Kaduna International Airport on Saturday, shooting dead a security officer of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The bandits overran the runway and prevented a Lagos-bound AZMAN aircraft from taking off at about 12:30 pm.

This online media platform gathered that the terrorists first struck on Friday night and were repelled by Nigerian troops after several hours of gun battle.

The incident caused panic at the airport, as staff scampered for safety.

The terrorists returned on Saturday morning to the airport and invaded the runway.

The army were said to have engaged them in another gun battle, but the terrorists were undaunting, insisting the airport must be shut.

“The bandits started attacking the Airport around midnight. The soldiers were able to repel them that midnight and we thought that was all. In fact, our workers resumed work this morning as usual till around 12:00 pm.

“Then, shortly after that, some NAMA workers went to check some of their equipment, then these bandits appeared and started shooting.

“The NAMA engineers scampered for safety, they could not even go and enter the vehicle that took them to the site. It was in the process that their security man was shot in the head. The security man was rushed to the hospital and he was confirmed dead.

“As I am talking to you now, the soldiers are still battling those bandits, and they are proving difficult to be repelled. Now, they have shut down the airport,” a source told Punch.

It was gathered that many of the staff have already fled the Airport, while more military personnel have been deployed to the scene on clearance operation with an Armoured Personnel Carrier.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed a staff member was killed by the assailants.

It also said normalcy has since been restored at the airport and security officials recovered two motorbikes abandoned by the bandits.

The airport manager, Amina Salami, said bandits invaded the airport through the perimeter fence from a nearby forest at about 1 p.m.

She said a security guard who was patrolling the runway was shot by the assailants before soldiers, attracted by the sound of gunshots, responded.

The Kaduna State government also confirmed the incident. Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i commended the security forces for their prompt response to the attack, and for repelling the attackers, and condoled with the family of the victim, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said.

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FAAN said in a statement on Twitter that a reinforcement team from the Nigerian Defence Academy was on ground to ensure the safety and security of airport workers/users.

“The Authority uses this opportunity to sympathise with the family and friends of the victim of this unfortunate incident,” the statement signed by Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, Ag. General Manager, Corporate Affairs, said.

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