Yet again, four aviation security personnel who are staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, were manhandled by men of the department of Customs and Excise, stationed at the Hajj and Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, yesterday. The four officials sustained serious injuries and were immediately rushed to the Aviation Clinic near the airport for treatment.

A similar incident happened recently when a protocol staff of the Authority was beaten to a state of coma by men of the Nigerian Air Force at the same airport for insisting on adherence to safety regulations of the airport.

Yakubu Dati, general manager, corporate affairs, FAAN, said the fracas ensued when two customs officials attempted to gain entry into the air side of the airport without any form of identification, in breach of security regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, but were prevented from doing so by the Aviation Security, AVSEC, officials.

The Customs men then resorted to beating the aviation security officials in full glare of the public, leading to a brief disruption of operations in the immediate vicinity.