Nigeria denies terrorist attack on flight

ABUJA - The Nigerian government on Tuesday said there was no terrorist attack on an Arik Air flight from northeast Maiduguri to Abuja, the nation's capital city.

Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah disclosed this in a statement reaching Xinhua, saying that the rumor making the rounds of a bomb scare on an Arik airline flight from Maiduguri to Abuja is absolutely false.

"In fact, it is a hoax as there is no iota of truth whatsoever in this rumor," the minister said.

According to her, a passenger, Aminu Galadima, from northern Niger State, boarded an Abuja-bound Arik Air flight from Maiduguri, adding that mid air, he began to act strangely and screaming "God is great".

She said other passengers, alarmed by his behavior, rushed to apprehend him.

After going through all mandatory security screening nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him, the minister said.

Oduah said though a thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him, the pilot radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.

The suspect was handed over to officials of the State Security Service and he is currently being interrogated, she added.

The minister assured the public that the Ministry of Aviation was working tirelessly on the safety and security of passengers, airports and the airspace.

She urged Nigerians to desist from spreading dangerous rumors that could create fear in air travelers and the public.