Alarm At Airport As Navy Officer Yerima Allegedly Tries To Board Flight With Gun

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

According to Ireporter Online, the officer reportedly entered the boarding terminal via the military wing of the airport, avoiding standard civilian security checks, before attempting to board a ValueJet Airlines flight while in possession of a pistol. Firearms are strictly prohibited on commercial flights unless properly declared and processed through authorized security channels under Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations.

Industry sources said airline security personnel detected the breach and prevented Lieutenant Yerima from boarding with the weapon, insisting that he comply with the civil aviation rules that apply to all passengers, including military personnel. The officer reportedly resisted at first but later submitted to screening and firearm declaration procedures, after which he was allowed to board the flight.

The incident reportedly escalated after the military sent an official letter to ValueJet Airlines, accusing the carrier of disrespecting military personnel and demanding an apology for preventing the officer from boarding with his firearm.

Sources further indicated that Lieutenant Yerima’s use of the restricted military wing to bypass civilian checkpoints violated aviation safety regulations, which require all passengers to undergo screening and for firearms to be properly declared. Industry insiders suggest this reflects a broader pattern at major Nigerian airports, where some military personnel allegedly refuse to follow standard boarding procedures.

A senior ValueJet official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said airline staff are often intimidated when enforcing compliance. The official noted that some carriers occasionally allow military personnel to bypass security to avoid confrontation, sending protocol officers to collect boarding passes and escort passengers directly to aircraft.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has also faced criticism for allegedly failing to respond to repeated complaints about such breaches. Sources said reports of similar incidents often go unaddressed, with the authority accused of siding with military personnel rather than enforcing aviation safety rules. In a recent case at Port Harcourt International Airport, airline staff reportedly reported military personnel for violating boarding protocols, but FAAN allegedly reprimanded the airline instead, while the officers faced no sanctions.