Panic As Thugs Allegedly Aided By Police Pull Down Enugu Airport Fence

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Panic As Thugs Allegedly Aided By Police Pull Down Enugu Airport Fence

Serious panic was recorded on Friday due to the demolition of a perimeter fence at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

According to a report by Daily Post, it was learnt that the demolition, which was carried out by thugs, created tension among the residents of nearby estates, as well airport workers.

A reliable source told Daily Post correspondent that a swift response by men of the Nigerian Air Force led to the arrest of some of the perpetrators.

There was also confusion over claims that the men behind the demolition were escorted by the police and some unknown gunmen.

This is not the first time the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, is coming under such attack.

In August 2020, a similar act was carried out, a development that drew the ire of the then aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, as well as the immediate past Enugu Governor, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Sirika, who stormed the airport then, vowed to apply all lawful means to prosecute one Arch. John J. Emejulu, who was said to be responsible for the destruction of the concrete perimeter fence, covering about 2km.

About four years later, Emejulu is being accused again of bringing the thugs that destroyed a section of the airport fence on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Mr Mark Benson, a private security guard manning one of the estates close to the airport fence, Oriental Estate, told journalists that several armed men and thugs invaded the area on Friday.

He said they accessed the airport fence through the estate’s gate.

According to him, “at about 9 am, I lock everywhere, one man carry police and other people come break the estate gate keys, force themselves inside here and start demolishing airport fence.

“I called the estate chairman and other people, so airport people came and arrested him.” (sic)

It was learnt that the aviation minister, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, was not pleased with the development and has activated a process to bring the perpetrators to book and stop a repeat of such.

It was also gathered that the Enugu airport manager, Mr Hillary Umunna visited the scene on Saturday in company of some other aviation workers.

Meanwhile, a resident of Oriental Estate, Barr Vincent Egechukwu Obetta described the development as totally condemnable and unacceptable.

Obetta told journalists that, “we share an adjoining fence with the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

“When this thing was happening yesterday, we thought it was a terrorist act because a particular airline was landing when some group of men with the police marched into this place and started destroying the fence that will lead them into the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, property.

“As communities that surround the FAAN property, we called the attention of the government.

“This matter, the land in dispute, (if there is any dispute at all) is already before a court of competent jurisdiction and when a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, every issue that is related thereto becomes sub-judice.

“So, we disagree with a situation where people are using the police to perpetrate illegality. Since December 20, we have not slept in this area; we won’t accept it.

“We believe in the rule of law and we believe in the authority of Nigeria. But we are not going to take a situation where some people choose to be lawless.

“When the assailant was caught, he was saying that the authorities of the Enugu State Police Command approved his action; we will no longer accept the invasion of this place by some group of unknown gunmen aided by the police.”

Similarly, the Chairman of Oriental Estate, Engineer Chris Aniemeje urged the federal government to deal decisively with Emejulu.