Customs Seizes Stealth Fighter Jets Imported By Unknown Person At Lagos Airport

By Mojisola Delano On Jan 28, 2017

On Friday, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) handed over 2 military helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The helicopters were said to have been imported into Nigeria by yet unknown persons who also failed to produce an end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Punch reports that the Customs service stated that it seized the civil model Bell helicopters because the failure of its importers to produce the certificate was in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.

The helicopters whose value, according to the Customs Area controller, Frank Allanah, was over N9.7bn, were seized on November 7, 2016 in line with section 46 of CEMA.

Allanah said, “The helicopters were flown in as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“The choppers were detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited shed pending fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation.”

At the hand over ceremony, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the military helicopters and accessories would be taken to the NAF hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with Customs officials .

He described the handover – which he noted was approved by the president – as a milestone because the helicopters were fitted for military combat operations.

The identity(ies) of the persons who originally imported the helicopters fitted for military combat operations, and what they hoped to use it for however remains unresolved. Understandably this constitutes a source of worry.

Only recently, a fighter jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force mistakenly hit a camp for displaced persons leaving over 100 persons dead and many more injured. The accident occurred while the air force was in pursuit of terrorists.

It becomes distressing to think that terrorists or other yet unidentified groups could now be trying to import military helicopters for use. It sure calls for more surveillance and diligent efforts by the state security agencies to track down such persons and bring them to book speedily before they wreak more havoc on the nation’s sovereignty.