By Damilare Adeleye
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has distanced itself from an officer, who was caught in a viral video being slapped by a passenger for allegedly trying to use him to traffic drug.
It was learnt that the incident took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at about 1430hrs at gate 2 boarding gate at ITZ2.
FAAN, in a statement by Mrs Obiageli Orah, Director Public Affairs &Consumer Protection, said the officer being manhandled in the video is not its staff member.
“The Authority wishes to set the records straight by stating that the officer being manhandled in the video is not a staff of FAAN. He has been identified as a member of the staff of Pathfinder company.
“The employee was said to have approached a passenger to help him convey a parcel through the flight.
“When the passenger became sceptical ,he raised an alarm, alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.
“The employee was immediately arrested for questioning by the Crime Investigation and Intelligence Unit of the Aviation Security Services.
“The passenger involved has since departed on Ibom Air to Accra while the medication with the name “NEW AGE GLUCOSAMINE CHONDROITIN SULFATE COMPLEX ” has been taken to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) for further investigation.
“FAAN is dedicated to a drug-free society and has zero tolerance to drug peddling through her airports,” the statement read