FAAN Accuses Top DSS Official Of 'Slapping' Abuja Airport Officer, Condemns Security Breach
FAAN discloses it has escalated the issue, and condemned the official's actions in strong terms.
Joy Kalu 
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has condemned an alleged attack on a security staff at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, FAAN accused a top official of the Department of State Services (DSS), Safiyanu Abba, of deliberately obstructing the airport's security process.
The agency said Abba breached protocol when he prevented a further search of a visitor who had triggered an alarm after walking through a metal detector.
Abba then allegedly slapped a security officer who insisted on conducting another search, an incident that happened on Friday, July 17.
The agency said; "We note with dismay that Mr. Safiyanu Abba, the Head of DSS at NAIA deliberately obstructed airport Security process, and slapped an Aviation Security Officer who was performing his duty by calling on Mr Safiyanu Abba to desist from doing so.
"This happened on the 17th July at about 15:25 hours. He breached security procedure by obstructing further searching of a visitor who had just walked through the metal detector and activated the alarm.
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"The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria strongly condemns this abuse of power and the Security process in our airport. This has also been duly escalated.
The incident is the third high-profile case that the agency has reported to the public since airports were reopened this month.
The Federal Government reopened the airspace for domestic flights after it was completely shut down in March to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Last week, FAAN accused both Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, and former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, of endangering the safety and health of other airport users by refusing to adhere to the protocols which were approved by the Federal Government.
The agency warned that VIP passengers can be banned from flying if they flout protocols put in place by authorities
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, also warned last week that passengers who act in an unruly manner can be held 'criminally liable' by a court of law.
He said airports are national security assets and must be taken very seriously because the weight of responsibility is enormous.
