Air travellers lament harassment by air force officers

The Punch - Nigeria

Some air travellers have lamented the harassment they suffer in the hands of officers of the Nigerian Air Force at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Those who spoke with our correspondent and responded to posts on the social media recalled that they had been extorted by the officers.
PUNCH Metro had reported how a protocol officer of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Muhammed Shuaibu, was tortured by four officers of the air force who had removed the number plate of his friend’s vehicle.
Shuaibu had told our correspondent that it was a common practice for the officers to remove number plates of vehicles at the departure wing of the airport in a bid to extort air travellers.
He said he was appealing for the release of his friend’s number plate, when the officers pounced on him and beat him into a coma.
The Command Public Relations Officer, Logistics Command, NAF, Joel Abioye, had said the protocol officer only sustained injuries in his nostrils while struggling to retrieve the number plate from the officers.
However, some Nigerians who use the MMIA, said extortion of air travellers by the air force personnel was a common occurrence.
A communication expert, Adekunle Binuyo, said, “Every time I pass through the place, the officers are always asking for bribes. They do this by telling you to give them money for tea.
“If you tell them you do not have local currency on you, they would tell you to bring whatever you have. I have been to other airports, Newark, Abu Dhabi, Heathrow, and Kotoka in Ghana. Only Nigerian airports do that.”
A reader on Nairaland.com, who identified himself simply as Yoged, said some air force officials collected N4,000 from him about a week ago after removing his number plate.
“Those guys are animals. I was at the airport with a friend on Friday. We parked at the arrival entrance to ask questions. Those fools removed our number plate and wasted our time. We had to beg them with N4,000.”
Another air traveller,Victor Iringere, said, “It is horrible; the audacity with which they ask for bribes is something else. That is the only issue I have ever had with them.”
A senior official of FAAN, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said people who opposed or challenged the officers were beaten.
He said, “They are extorting money from people. They will remove your number plate and ask you for money. But that is not the rule.
“That particular place is a strictly drop-off zone. What it means is that the area is to pick up and drop off air travellers.
“For anyone who illegally parks there, the person’s vehicle is towed and a fine is charged.”
PUNCH Metro took a tour around the departure wing of the MMIA and saw that several vehicles were parked on the spot despite the sign posts.
An official at the airport, who craved anonymity, said there was always preferential treatment for some high–profile officers.
“They only harass and assault defenseless civilians,” he added.
The official called for punishment of the air force officers who assaulted Shuaibu, saying the military authorities should not be allowed to bury the case.