How terrorists hijacked Kaduna airport, killed one [PHOTOS]

Yet-to-be-identified gunmen suspected to be hardened terrorists attacked the Kaduna International Airport located in Igabi Local Government Area the Kaduna State on Saturday.

The attackers, numbering over 200 were said to have taken over the airport. The development caused panic at the airport as the suspected terrorists reportedly killed one security official of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

The attack, it was gathered forced the authority to temporarily shut down activities while the military battled the suspected terrorists. Following the presence of the terrorists on the runway area of the airport, workers attached to the airport were said to have left their duty posts.

Most of the workers at the airport had fled as more military personnel have been deployed to the airport. The source said, “They started attacking the Airport around midnight. The soldiers were able to repel them that midnight and we thought that was all. In fact, our workers resumed work this morning as usual till around 12:00 pm.

“Then, shortly after that, some NAMA workers went to check some of their equipment, then these bandits appeared and started shooting.

“The NAMA engineers scampered for safety, they could not even go and enter the vehicle that took them to the site. It was in the process that their security man was shot in the head.

“The security man was rushed to the hospital and he was confirmed dead.

“As I am talking to you now, the soldiers are still battling those bandits, and they are proving difficult to be repelled. Now, they had shut down the airport.”

According to sources, the aircraft could not take off at about 12.30pm because of the presence of the bandits by the runway.
The sources added that armed military personnel were immediately deployed for reinforcement and succeeded in chasing the terrorists, seizing some of their motorcycles.

However, reacting to the incident in a telephone interview, the Airport Manager, Mrs. Amina Ozi Salami, said no flight was held hostage by the terrorists as the only two flights had long taken of before the terrorists started firing shots at the runway from the parameter fence.
According to her, the terrorists have their route behind the parameter fence and were always passing there.
She said one of the security guards who was at runway 05, was hit by the bullet from the terrorists on the head adding that he died on the way to the hospital.

“AZMAN had long taken off at the time the bandits started shooting. Infact Azma may have forgotten that they came to Kaduna”, the Airport Manager said. According to her, “What happened was that, whether they wanted to come into the airport, but they shot a security guard on runway 05. “Unfortunately on their way to the hospital”, he died. “Behind the parameter fence is their route, they are always passing through that place. I don’t know whether they wanted to come to the airport.

Unfortunately, they shot at the (runway), unfortunately their bullet hit the security guard on the head. “But the two flights we had, had taken off. “There are military personnel in the airport and they gave it to the terrorists. They seized some of their motorcycles. The military succeeded in chasing them away.” On Friday, terrorists reportedly attacked and killed about 50 people in nine villages in Giwa LGA. Several others were reportedly abducted by the terrorists during the attacks.

Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, who confirmed the attacks, however could not confirm the casualty figures, saying he was awaiting reports from security agencies. “We are expecting feedback from security operatives. I am still waiting to get the report from them.

“I cannot confirm any death figure until we receive security reports from security agencies because they are our source of information. Once they summit the report, I will issue a statement”, Aruwan said in a telephone interview on Saturday. According to reports, the terrorists on Friday, invaded Dillalai, Zango Tama, Kaya, Barebari, Anguwan Bakko, Gidan Alhajin Kida, Kadanya and Durumi communities, among others, unleashing mayhem on the villagers.

Many houses were also reportedly burnt while about 100 cows were said to have been rustled. Reports quoting one Mansur Ibrahim, a resident of one of the communities said the affected villages include “Dillalai, Zango Tama, Kaya, Barebari, Anguwan Bakko, Gidan Alhajin Kida, Kadanya and Durumi among others.”

He said, Dillalai was the worst affected as about 15 people were reportedly killed, while houses and five commercial trucks were burnt.
According to him, the bandits also burnt a church at Zangon Tama village, also in Giwa LGA. Those who sustained injuries from gunshots were said to have been taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, for treatment.

Kaduna Airport is an airport serving Kaduna, the capital of Kaduna State in Nigeria. The airport is around 22 kilometres northwest of the city. The airport opened in 1982. Kaduna also has an older airport located on the northern edge of the city.