THERE was pandemonium at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Wednesday when a passenger, Mrs. Hilda Dokubo-Mrakpor, raised the alarm over a bomb allegedly planted in an Arik Airline plane she boarded.

The alarm made the 98 passengers on board the aircraft to rush out of the plane.


Dokubo-Mrakpor, a popular actress had screamed the moment she received a call from an unknown person that an explosive had been planted in the plane they had just boarded.


It was gathered that the caller, who identified himself as Chukwuka Nwokolo, had told the actress, who was a Special Adviser to former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, to disembark from the plane.


Dokubo-Mrakpor was also told by the caller that the Lagos-bound aircraft was expected to explode midair after taking off from the Port Harcourt International Airport.


THE PUNCH learnt that passengers, who were still waiting at the lounge for the next flight, were also scared when they learnt of the incident.


The passenger, who raised the alarm, was said to have been invited and quizzed by security operatives on the incident.


On getting wind of the incident, the police drafted its bomb disposal squad to the airport to carry out a thorough search of the plane.


But no bomb or any other explosive was found in the aircraft 5N-MJD Boeing 373, which was immediately grounded while another plane was provided for the shock-stricken passengers.


Commenting on the development, the Deputy General Manager, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Victor Arisa, said the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Suleiman Abba, who was informed about the matter, sent in a bomb disposal squad.


“The bomb disposal squad combed the place after the whole passengers had disembarked. Nothing was found in the plane and the passengers were airlifted to Lagos. 98 passengers, excluding members of the crew were on board,” Arisa stated.


State Police Public Relations Officer, Dr. Rita Inoma-Abbey, who confirmed the incident, said a prospective passenger had made useful statement to aid police investigation.

Post Reply

Posted: at 17-03-2011 10:25 AM (13 years ago) | Gistmaniac

THE SECURITY SERVICES SHOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS
 TO AVERT FUTURE UNWARRANTED.....

Posted: at 17-03-2011 12:00 PM (13 years ago) | Upcoming

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