Fear as attackers reportedly assisted by police smash over the fencing at Enugu airport
The breaking down of an Akanu Ibiam International Airport perimeter fence in Enugu on Friday caused alarm.
The HIFOX NEWS has learned that tensions between surrounding estate residents and airport personnel arose as a result of the destruction, which was carried out by thugs.
Several of the offenders were apprehended after a prompt reaction by members of the Nigerian Air Force, a trustworthy source said our correspondent.
Confusion also arose from reports that some unidentified gunmen and the police were escorting the guys responsible for the demolition.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu has experienced similar attacks before.
A similar conduct was carried out in August 2020, which angered both the recently retired governor of Enugu, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Hadi Sirika, the then-aviation minister.
When Sirika stormed the airport that day, she swore to use all legal means to bring charges against Arch. John J. Emejulu, who was allegedly behind the damage of the about two-kilometer-long concrete perimeter barrier.
About four years later, on Friday, January 12, 2024, Emejulu is once more accused of transporting the thugs that demolished a portion of the airport barrier.
Private security guard Mr. Mark Benson, who is stationed at Oriental Estate, one of the estates near the airport fence, informed reporters that a number of armed men and thugs broke into the area on Friday.
He claimed they went through the estate’s gate to get to the airport barrier.
He said, “I lock everything at about nine in the morning. A man with a police badge comes, and other people come and break the estate gate keys and force themselves inside and start demolishing the airport fence.”
“I called the chairman of the estate and other people, and they came to the airport and arrested him.” (sic)
According to HIFOX NEWS, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, the minister of aviation, is not happy with the development and has started a procedure to hold those responsible accountable and prevent a recurrence of the same.
READ ALSO: Security Agencies Know Sponsors, Masterminds of Plateau Attacks—Gov Mutfwang – Hifox News
Additionally, rumors circulated that Mr. Hillary Umunna, the manager of the Enugu airport, and a few other aviation professionals paid a visit to the scene on Saturday.
Barr Vincent Egechukwu Obetta, a resident of Oriental Estate, called the development “totally condemnable” and “unacceptable.”
“We share an adjoining fence with the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu,” Obetta said to reporters.
When this incident occurred yesterday, we initially believed it to be a terrorist attack since a specific airline was landing when a group of guys wearing police uniforms marched into the area and began demolishing the fence that would have allowed them to enter FAAN, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, property.
“We alerted the government as the communities encircling the FAAN site.
“We shall no longer tolerate the invasion of this location by some group of unknown gunmen assisted by the police,” the attacker said when he was apprehended, claiming that the Enugu State Police Command had given the go-ahead for his actions.
In a same vein, Emejulu’s federal government was encouraged to act decisively by Engineer Chris Aniemeje, the Chairman of Oriental Estate.
He noted that there had apparently been previous instances of Emejulu attacking the airport in Enugu.
He states, “It is quite unfortunate that one architect, J.J. Emejulu, is posing a threat.”
“He has been causing trouble, demolishing homes and fences everywhere, claiming to be the owner of the land, but he was unable to present any relevant title documentation.
“He broke through the entire perimeter fence of the airport at one point, claiming that his property was on airport property, and then he fled.”
“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has returned to his post, escorted by thugs and police, since he left office.”
Even in the incident that occurred yesterday, January 12, 2024, he arrived in a police vehicle accompanied by a few unidentified shooters.
“They were demolishing the completed concrete airport premiere barrier.
“We reported the security breach to the Air Force, and although the thugs had fled by the time they arrived, they were able to capture the person responsible for the demolition.”
The fact that one man will be wreaking havoc and invading government land is a really terrible circumstance, and as neighbors of the airport, we are no longer at ease.
“I’m curious as to why he would be released after being allowed to carry out these actions.
We want the federal government to get involved; they should detain him and take firm action against him. After what he did in 2020, I’m shocked that he isn’t spending years behind bars; he is just returning to his previous behavior.
Additional landlords in the airport neighborhood who conversed with media were Joshua Akachukwu and Engineer Chidiebere Didiugwu.
They both bemoaned the risk that the development had placed them in.
He is bothering us every day with unidentified gunmen. He arrived even on January 3rd; this location is now quite vulnerable to attacks.
Didiugwu begged, “We are appealing to the government to bring an end to this.”
Likewise, Akachukwu declared, “Our wives and children are afraid; we have been exposed and are now vulnerable to attacks by both hoodlums and reptiles.”
Subsequent investigation by HIFOX NEWS revealed that the Enugu State government expressed similar sorrow over the fence’s demolition and promised to hold those responsible accountable.
DAILY POST attempted to contact the Enugu State Police Command in the interim but received no answer.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, was contacted by phone, but he did not take the calls.
On Saturday night, a text message was sent to him, but as of the time this story was filed, he had not replied.
It was not successful to get an answer from Emejulu either. However, a source implied that he was making a claim to the land near the airport.
Although it is unclear if the police had freed him, his automobile was still seen on the Airport Police Division property.
He was moved to the State CID, according to a police source.
The insider stated, “I’m not sure if he’s been released, but he was brought in here on Friday.”
