Robbers attack Lagos airport, kill 2 cops
•Kill two policemen, cart away cash
The porous security network at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was exposed last night as armed robbers, numbering over 10, raided the terminal killing two policemen and stealing cash and other valuables.
One of the robbers was also said to have been killed by police officers who were in charge of security at the airport.
An eyewitness, who works at the terminal building, told our correspondent that the armed robbers had entered the airport through the terminal zero, proceeded to the arrival hall and entered the departure hall of the terminal.
The incident, which occurred around 8 p.m., took the various security officials stationed at the airport by surprise.
The robbers were said to have stolen an unspecified amount of cash in local and foreign currencies from bureaux de change operators operating outside the terminal before entering the building itself.
The eyewitness said the attackers ordered all those in the terminal to lie down while those who refused to comply were shot.
Several passengers and other airport users were dispossessed of cash and other belongings during the siege, according to sources.
A protocol officer of Addax Oil Company simply identified as Chike was shot and reportedly taken to a hospital in an ambulance after the armed robbers had left.
However, information gathered indicated that the robbers were not able to penetrate into the central search area of the airport.
Responding through a text message, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident, but said that the men of the Nigerian Police attached to the airport foiled the attempted robbery attack.
Dati explained that there was an exchange of gunfire, which resulted in the death of one of the robbers, stressing that the number of casualties was still being ascertained as at press time.
He, however, said that the robbers might have come to the airport to attack some of the bureau de change operators within the premises.
He added, “The situation has since been brought under control by the swift intervention of joint security force. They were apparently attempting to rob a bureau de change operator near the airport.
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