Kaduna airport security breach as a red flag

Gradually, terrorists are spreading their wings to the country’s aviation sector through the Kaduna airport in particular.

Only two weeks ago, a group of terrorists beat the security network at the Kaduna airport to gain access through the sterile area housing the Very High Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR) installed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for easy flight operations aqnd unleash havoc.

Within the period their operations lasted, a precious life was lost while they were shooting sporadically to achieve their evil purpose.

The latest havoc was the third of its type at the same airport with the previous attacks leading to the abduction of some airport workers.

Obviously, in view of the terrorists’ mode of operations, they must be hardened and at the same time optimistic that the airport was an easy target for them to carry out their evil goals.

To them, an airport as restricted as it is meant to be with all the paraphernalia of security checkpoints is an easy walkover for them at least in Nigeria.

For the terrorists to have always succeeded each time they set out on this deadly operations at Kaduna airport is an indication that the airport is very porous and dangerous not only to aircraft but workers and even passengers making use of the airport.

It is unfortunate that each time the terrorists strike, that is when the relevant authorities would start running from pillar to post making empty promises that had hardly changed the situation.

In other words, the more the authorities seem to be doing something, the easier it often becomes for the terrorists to penetrate the airport and once this happens that is when you see the different authorities, including the political class issuing statements and pretending to be doing something.

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Thank God that these terrorists had not been able to fully achieve their evil purposes, but the fact is that they are using the Kaduna airport as a litmus test to check the security network across the country’s airports.

It will be a national disaster if the undesirable elements decide to target another airport to finally overrun it with ease and they get away with the plans.

In every clime, air transport has been adjudged to be the safest and most comfortable mode of transport, unfortunately, the latest activities of the terrorists have changed that narratives as far as air travellers are concerned.

It becomes more worrisome when each time the issue of security breach at the airport rears its head, the body language of the government has always been that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other aviation authorities should be responsible for safety at the airports.

The national security unit under the presidency prior to now had failed in including safety and security of the airports in its priority list leaving FAAN and other aviation agencies to face the challenges.

Without doubt, no other country leaves the security of its airports in the hands of only the aviation authorities as a target on any airport is a target on the entire country.

Therefore, the government should consider the constant attacks on Kaduna airport a red flag to a bigger one that may happen as the terrorists are ever ready to be on top of their games.

At this juncture, considering the security and safety of airport users and investments of airline operators and other allied businesses, the time has come for the government, particularly, its intelligence units, to give priority to airport safety by partnering with the airports and other aviation agencies in making the airports inaccessible to the terrorists.

To achieve this, the government needs to release adequate funding that will help in further strengthening the airports vicinities through the provisions of critical facilities like perimeter fencing and the thorough manning of the surroundings by a combination of security agencies.

For the fact that the terrorists had not been able to overrun any airport should not be taken for granted but should be seen as a mere luck for if they could bomb a train, they could target aircraft or even an entire airport. It will be too bad if something critical is not done after the latest Kaduna airport attack. Presently, no airport including Abuja or Lagos is safe and secured as many of the airports lack the critical safety components such as perimeter fences.