Navy Officer Yerima Accused Of Bypassing Airport Security With Firearm At Lagos Airport

Navy Officer Accused Of Bypassing Airport Security With Firearm At Lagos Airport
Airline officials stopped breach and enforced aviation security rules
FAAN criticised over handling of repeated military security violations

A Nigerian Navy officer, Adam Muhammad Yerima, has been accused of breaching aviation security protocols after allegedly bypassing mandatory passenger screening and attempting to board a commercial flight with a firearm at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.#

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the officer, a lieutenant, reportedly accessed the boarding terminal through the airport’s military wing, avoiding standard civilian security screening procedures, before attempting to board a ValueJet Airlines flight.

Aviation sources said the officer was in possession of a pistol, which is prohibited for passengers on commercial flights under Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority regulations unless properly declared and processed through approved security channels.

Airline security officials reportedly detected the breach during routine checks and stopped the officer from boarding the aircraft with the firearm. The officials insisted that he comply with civil aviation rules applicable to all passengers, including uniformed personnel travelling on commercial flights.

After initial resistance, the officer was said to have submitted to screening and firearm declaration procedures and was later allowed to board the flight.

The incident reportedly escalated afterwards, with sources disclosing that the Nigerian military wrote an official letter to ValueJet Airlines, accusing the airline of disrespecting military personnel and demanding a formal apology for preventing the officer from boarding with his weapon.

Industry insiders said Lieutenant Yerima bypassed designated civilian checkpoints by entering through the restricted military wing, a move described as a violation of aviation safety regulations. Existing rules require all passengers, regardless of status, to undergo screening, while firearms must be formally declared and handled under strict security protocols.

A senior ValueJet official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said airline staff are often intimidated when enforcing compliance.

“This is a recurring issue. Some military personnel refuse to follow boarding protocols and sometimes threaten airline officials when asked to comply,” the source said.

The official added that some airlines occasionally enable such breaches to avoid confrontation.

“They send protocol officers to collect boarding passes and move straight from the military wing to the aircraft, bypassing all checks,” the source said.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has also faced criticism for allegedly failing to act on repeated reports of similar security breaches at major airports.