Nigeria's Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah-Ogiewonyi, moved quickly to dispel any rumours of an "attempted bombing" of an Arik Air (W3) domestic flight from Maiduguri to Abuja, in which a passenger is said to have suddenly started shouting "Allahu Akhabar!" (God is Great!), culminating in him being tackled by fellow passengers.
According to a statement on the Minister's Facebook account:
"A passenger, Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, Niger state boarded a Maiduguri - Abuja bound Arik Air aircraft with registration number 5N-MJE after going through all mandatory security screening. Nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.
Arik Air B737-700 '5N-MJE' (superspotter)
However, mid air the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming ''God is Great". Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.
The plane landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at exactly 1253 hrs and the suspect handed over to the SSS at about 1445 hrs where he is currently being interrogated."
The Ministry reassured the Nigerian flying public of its continued focus on the safety and security of the
nation's airspace.
