Wike’s Yerima Allegedly Bypasses Airport Screening, Attempts to Board Flight With Firearm
A Nigerian Navy officer, Adam Muhammad Yerima, has reportedly come under scrutiny for allegedly violating aviation security regulations after attempting to board a commercial flight with a firearm at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
According to SaharaReporters, the lieutenant allegedly gained access to the boarding terminal through the airport’s military wing, thereby circumventing mandatory civilian passenger screening procedures, before attempting to board a ValueJet Airlines aircraft.
Sources familiar with the incident said the officer was in possession of a pistol, which is prohibited on commercial flights under Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) regulations unless it is properly declared and processed through approved security channels.
Aviation sources disclosed that airline security personnel detected the breach and prevented the officer from boarding the flight with the weapon. The officials reportedly insisted that the officer comply with civil aviation rules applicable to all passengers, including uniformed personnel travelling on commercial airlines.
Following initial resistance, the officer was said to have eventually submitted to the required screening and firearm declaration procedures and was subsequently allowed to board the aircraft.
However, the situation reportedly escalated after the incident, with sources revealing that the Nigerian military later issued an official letter to ValueJet Airlines. The letter allegedly accused the airline of disrespecting military personnel and demanded a formal apology for stopping the officer from boarding with his firearm.
Insiders further alleged that Lieutenant Yerima completely bypassed designated civilian checkpoints by accessing the terminal through the restricted military wing, an action said to contravene aviation safety regulations.
Under existing aviation rules, all passengers—regardless of status—are required to undergo security screening, while firearms must be formally declared and handled under strict security protocols.
Industry insiders described the incident as part of a broader trend at major Nigerian airports, where some military personnel allegedly refuse to submit to standard boarding procedures.
A senior ValueJet official, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, said airline employees are often intimidated when they insist on compliance with aviation regulations.
“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 also acknowledged that airlines sometimes contribute to such breaches in an effort 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 (FAAN) has also been criticised over alleged inaction in addressing repeated reports of similar security violations.
Sources claimed that complaints submitted to FAAN regarding such incidents frequently go unanswered, with the authority accused of siding with military officers rather than enforcing aviation safety standards.
In a related incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport, airline staff reportedly raised concerns over military personnel breaching boarding protocols, only for FAAN to allegedly reprimand the airline, while the officers involved faced no disciplinary action.
Yerima previously attracted national attention following a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who allegedly attempted to force entry into a property under Yerima’s protection.
