Governor Wamakko's plane diverted for safety - Ministry

Aviation Nigeria

The Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Wednesday said that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on wednesday 11 June 2013, diverted an Aircraft carrying, Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, for safety purposes

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Aviation, Mr Joe Obi in Abuja.

The statement read: 

"A Donnier 328 aircraft carrying Gov. Wamakko and other passengers from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Sokoto airport was diverted to Kaduna airport for safety and security precaution measure."

"This followed the near breakdown of law and order at the Sokoto Airport by an unruly crowd of Wamakko's supporters who broke the fence on their way to the tarmac, to welcome the governor.

"Effort by security personnel to prevent the breach of security and movement into the prohibited and restricted areas of the airport was met with stiff resistance from the crowd.

"Sensing that the security and safety of the governor and other passengers is in real danger, NAMA decided to divert the aircraft to Kaduna Airport to restore normalcy at the airport," 

The statement noted that the governor and other passengers on board had since returned and landed safely at the airport, after the crowd had been restrained from entering the restricted zone.

Source: NAN