Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have been directed by the Ministry of Aviation headed by Stella Oduah, to stay away from all the nation’s international airports.
The order, which was communicated to the SSS leadership a few weeks ago, was said to have shocked the operatives. The new order might affect the ability of the SSS to perform its duties of preventing, detecting, and investigating threats of espionage, subversion, sabotage and terrorist activities, especially at the airports.
The SSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, could not be reached for comments on Sunday as she did not respond to calls to her mobile telephone line. The Ministry of Aviation refused to either confirm or deny the withdrawal of the SSS operatives from the airports.
The international wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos was in total chaos on Wednesday. By the time the dust settled three policemen attached to the airport command of the Nigeria Police had fallen to the bullets of some gunmen who invaded the nation's busiest international airport.
An eyewitness who was at the airport at the time of the incident around 7:30pm said that the armed robbers numbering over 10 came into the airport through the terminal zero and proceeded straight into the arrival and departure halls of the terminal.
