Kaduna Airport Attacked

On the evening of March 25th, it was reported that an armed contingent invaded Kaduna International Airport and killed a security guard attached to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA. They also allegedly delayed a Lagos bound commercial aircraft from taking off.

According to a local source the Managing Director of NAMA, Matthew Pwajok, said the guard at the site of the navigational aids (Navaids), about one kilometre away from the runway, was killed, adding that the technical staff ran for safety after the guard was killed.

Pwajok said: “It’s true, bandits attacked our Navaids site which is a kilometre away from the runway, they killed the watchman while the technical staff ran back, we alerted the military and they responded swiftly, the situation is now under control by the military, the few flights were able to take off afterward”.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, also confirmed that troops repelled bandits who attacked the Kaduna airport.

He said in a statement: “Security forces have reported that an attack by armed bandits was repelled in the vicinity of the Kaduna International Airport.  Troops stationed within and around the airport responded and repelled the attackers. However, the bandits, unfortunately, shot and killed a staff member stationed at the perimeter fence who raised the alarm on sighting them. Airport operations resumed with scheduled flights departing after the incident. Security forces are conducting operations in the airport general area. Further updates will be communicated to the public.”

The Kaduna State government also confirmed the incident. Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i commended the local security forces for their prompt response to the attack,  for repelling the attackers and sent condolences to the family of the victim. Read the full article here.