The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, on Tuesday in Abuja said there was no terrorist attack on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja.
Oduah made this known in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Mr Joe Obi.
“The rumour making the rounds of a bomb scare on an Arik airline flight from Maiduguri to Abuja is absolutely false,'' she said.
“In fact, it is a hoax as there is no iota of truth whatsoever in this rumour.’’
The minister explained that a passenger, Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, 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 behaviour, rushed to apprehend him.
After going through all mandatory security screening “nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him,'' the Minister stated.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the said aircraft landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 12:53 p.m.
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.’’
The minister assured the fpublic 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'' rumours that could create fear in air travellers and the public.