AFTERMATH OF BOMB BLASTS: Security Beefed Up At Lagos Airport

Following the bomb blasts that killed 12 persons and injured dozens in Abuja, Nigeria’s  capital, last Friday while the country was celebrating its 50th independence anniversary,  security has been beefed up around and within the Murtala Muhammed International Airport  in Lagos, South West Nigeria.

Commuters heading towards the airport were yesterday and this morning searched by a  combined team of the Airport Police Command and the Air Force.

Private cars were also stopped and thoroughly searched along the airport road before they  could proceed to the aerodrome.

On some instances, it was learnt, all the passengers had to disembark on the road to go  through body search by the security operatives.

At the main entrance of the terminal building, air travellers and airport users were made  to pass through metal detectors before they could gain access into the building.   Belongings were opened and some intruders were sent back by policemen.

Sources said that the security beef-up is not unconnected with the a man-hunt launched by  security agencies to apprehend the masterminds of last Friday’s bomb attacks.

A source at the airport Police Command this morning told our correspondent that all  officers are on duty and the exercise was going on smoothly.

“Security has been beefed up. All of our officers are on duty. Everything is going on  smoothly. There are no problems for now and everything is under control,” the source  said.

The Lagos Airport Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Ola, did not return our call for  comments and the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Mr. Omololu  Bishi Bishi, directed our correspondent to the Command Public Relations Officer.

“Please talk to the PRO. We are in a meeting right now and there is a PRO in this  station,” he told our correspondent.

The Abuja bomb blast claimed 12 lives and injured over 30. Many of injured are still in  various hospitals across Abuja.