Chinedu Eze
Aero Contractors has revealed how its check in staff that reported a child kidnapper who boarded the airline’s flight at the MurtalaMuhammed Domestic Airport (MMA2), Lagos on Tuesday.
A middle-aged female passenger, billed to travel to Port Harcourt carried two-week old infant suspected not to be her child by her conduct and was forced to lactate the baby, which she could not do, prompting security operatives to arrest her with the baby.
Informed source from the airline explained that during check in of Flight NG313, the woman approached the check in officer, Diane Babalola to inquire whether she could travel with the two weeks old baby.
She subsequently purchased a ticket to Port Harcourt (NG313) on PNR AQ2G30 for herself Adedokun/ Rebecca Toyin and her supposed infant Adedokun Rebecca Iretonmiwa (female).
She was in a haste to go to the boarding lounge when a NAHCO baggage handler saw her and directed her back to the counter to check in as her conduct had raised eyebrows.
During security questioning, her body language made the Aero staff suspicious, as the check-in officer SeyiOguntoyan accused her of not being the biological mother of the infant.
Also, the counter supervisor, NgoziEze insisted that the woman should breastfeed the baby to calm her because she was so uncomfortable and hysterical; but when the woman reluctantly tried to feed the baby, it was discovered that she was not lactating.
“It was at this juncture that the attention of the security was drawn and the woman was arrested and kept in custody of the Bi-courtney Airport Police Station.
THISDAY learnt that when she was interrogated, the woman gave different contradicting statements but established the fact that the baby was not hers.
She claimed that she adopted the baby through her sister, a nurse, who is based in Port Harcourtat the sum of N600, 000.00.
She said shewas going back to Port Harcourt because the baby took ill and needed medical attention. She referred them to a man whom she claimed was her husband but the man when contacted by the police officers denied knowing her.
“Meanwhile, while at the Police Station, the baby started vomiting and hiccupping, we (Duty officer Ifeoma and an the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority official) took the baby to the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) clinic where the baby was cleaned up, administered drugs to and dressed in warmed clothes. One of the Aero officials, Diane Babalola (a lactating mother) volunteered to breastfeed the baby and she was well fed. “The baby is currently in the custody of the BASL clinic awaiting other decisions from Aero and Bi-Courtney,” airline official told THISDAY.
The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain FolaAkinkiotu commended the security alertness of the team in the airport.
“This is a commendable effort by our airport staff and we are proud of their commitment to duty. We have a high safety and security heritage, and we are determined to keep that record,” he said.
