SSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar
By SaharaReporters, New York
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has blamed today’s incident on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja on a mentally-unstable man whose “condition was triggered off” by turbulence.  
Social media reports had claimed a bombing threat on the flight.
In a press statement, Marilyn Ogar, DSS’ Deputy Director for Public Relations,
said that when the man, an Abuja interior decorator named Aminu S. Galadima boarded the flight, Airport Management was not informed as had previously been arranged.  
Mr. Gladima had travelled to Maiduguri on October 19 with Hajia Yachilla Jidda, wife of the Secretary to the Borno State government, to do some work.  
“On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands,” the statement said.  
Following an investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Galadima was in poor mental health, and arrangements were made for him to be returned to Abuja for treatment.  
As it would turn out, terrible miscommunication then followed, leading to the lives of passengers being put in danger.  
“Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off,” Ogar said.
Explaining that the clarification became necessary in order “to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight,” she said Mr. Galadima is with the security forces.  
She did not explain why he is not in a hospital.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Aviation told SaharaReporters there had been no threat to the Maiduguri-Abuja flight.  That means it does not consider a “triggered-off” mentally-unstable passenger who had not been professionally handled a danger.
On their part, an Arik pilot on the flight said that the problem was only as “an unruly passenger who was high on drugs blabbing rubbish.”
Full text of the press statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
This is a brief highlight of the incident that occurred on the Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja.
On Friday, 19th October, 2012, Wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla JIDDA, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. GALADIMA, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work. On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.
The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the Hotel management, subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment. His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that GALADIMA has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.
On Sunday, 21st October, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight. However, the Airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified. Unfortunately, when GALADIMA was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off. Meanwhile, GALADIMA is in the custody of security forces.
        
This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.
Marilyn OGAR, msi
Deputy Director, Public Relations
Department of State Services
23rd October, 2012

http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/nigerias-secret-police-says-arik-airplane-incident-caused-mentally-unstable-man-triggered-

This is really funny, a mentally unstable man smashed the window of the hotel he lodged, thank GOD this freak did not smash the aircraft window,

I think he must have taken some hard drugs, e no de hard dem to tk somethng to high

Thought the Aviation Minister came out to say the Story is 100%

That woman should be SACKED for lying to Nigerians that such an incident NEVER happened.

gbrown: This is really funny, a mentally unstable man smashed the window of the hotel he lodged, thank GOD this freak did not smash the aircraft window,

yes o.that wud hv resulted in plane crash

So mad man no see beta tin to play wit..na bomb be d nxt toy available..naija i hail

our mentally stable youths are all over searching for jobs,na mad man them come give job,naija na funny country

Mad men and Nigerian airports! People go claim madness one day hijack plane....i dey laff.

gbrown: This is really funny, a mentally unstable man smashed the window of the hotel he lodged, thank GOD this freak did not smash the aircraft window,

he,d probably smash his hand doing that...its thick stuff, not as light as you mistakening it to be

mad man sef dey traveL, wehrey man

prince FAD:
yes o.that wud hv resulted in plane crash

not a chance

9ja God go save us from d media n d police...b4 na bokoharam attack o d flight o! God go help us.

gbrown: This is really funny, a mentally unstable man smashed the window of the hotel he lodged, thank GOD this freak did not smash the aircraft window,

He couldn't! not even if he wanted to



Lets say by some miracle he turns green and says "HULK SMASH" then *b@ng* window gone. At this point I'm still assuming he is the only one standing(no one will confront hulk), rapid de-pressurization and he is sucked out of the cabin in an instant. Oxygen masks pop out, pilot descends and they all live happily ever after

the end

I hear u ma.make una jst beef up security in airports,n shun gramar,our airports is very vonulrable.

Nice cover up by SSS

this government will kill us all

there are also some rumours that an arik flight almost crashed some months back and that our govt hushed it up

As it would turn out, terrible miscommunication then followed, leading to the lives of passengers being put in danger.
“Unfortunately, when Galadima was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off,” Ogar said.
Explaining that the clarification became necessary in order “to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight,” she said Mr. Galadima is with the security forces.
She did not explain why he is not in a hospital.

a confirmed mental patient who was not escorted on a plane? how does a "condition trigger off?"

terrible miscommunication my arse i was travelling to ph last week. there was a fellow who had no id on him. though the security agents initially challenged him, they eventually let him on the flight, no doubt after settling.

this story just comes off as spin by an incompetent interior decorator aviation minister and a desperate arik air

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=102602%3Apassengers-seize-man-in-plane-on-suspected-terror-scare&Itemid=425

PASSENGERS on an Abuja-bound Arik Air flight yesterday arrested a man that was suspected to be planning to bomb the plane.

But the spokesman for the Aviation Minister, Joe Obi, told reporters that it was not true that a bomb was found on the aircraft.

He stated: “A passenger, Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, Niger State boarded a Maiduguri-Abuja-bound Arik Air aircraft with registration number 5N MJE after going through all mandatory security screening. Nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.

“However, mid-air the passenger began to act strangely, loudly screaming Allah Akbar ( God is Great). Fellow passengers, alarmed by this behaviour rushed to apprehend him. A thorough search by fellow passengers and crew members revealed nothing dangerous on him. The pilot immediately radioed Air Traffic Control and airport security operatives.”

Sources told The Guardian in Abuja that the suspect, who works in the office of the Secretary to the Borno State Government has been under security surveillance for his “unusual” behaviour. He was followed from Abuja to Maiduguri where he lodged in a hotel.

Security agents who have kept an eye on him later decided to search his hotel room, but found no weapons or suspicious materials. Convinced that he was not sane, the suspect was taken to a hospital for check-up and treatment.

On being released, he was put on the Maiduguri flight back to Abuja yesterday. It was in the flight he then got up and shouted Allah Akbar! This prompted passengers who suspected he was a terrorist to overpower him. He has since been taken into custody by security agents.

But the State Security Service (SSS) in a statement said: “On Friday, 19th October, 2012, Wife of the SSG to the Borno State Government, Hajia Yachilla JIDDA, travelled to Maiduguri in company of one Aminu S. GALADIMA, an interior decorator based in Abuja to do some interior decoration work.

“On arrival in Maiduguri, he was lodged at Greenland Hotel. During the course of his stay, he exhibited unusual behaviour by smashing a window, and ended up with lacerations on his hands.

“The SSG was contacted, and in collaboration with the Hotel management, subject was taken to Atal Hospital, also in Maiduguri, where he received treatment.

“His family in Abuja was contacted and they gave confirmation that GALADIMA has been mentally unstable. In addition, his elder brother who lives in the UK was contacted and he requested that subject be returned to Abuja for medical attention.

“On Sunday, 21st October, 2012, he was taken to the airport to be returned to Abuja, but missed the flight.

“However, the Airport management was informed of his state of health, and they advised that whenever his return is scheduled, the management should be notified.

“Unfortunately, when GALADIMA was taken to the Airport on 23rd October for his return trip, the management of the Airport was not informed, and 10 minutes into the flight, due to slight turbulence, his condition was triggered off.

“Meanwhile, GALADIMA is in the custody of security agents.

“This clarification has become necessary to dispel the unfounded rumours concerning the flight.”

if this fellow was a critic of the govt eg el rufai, he would probably be on a no fly list. how hard is it to red flag a passenger?

What a concocted stories full of lies. This is so unreal, a fallacy only fit for the unlearned to swallow.

This story and the man's behavior is extremely consistent with patients who suffer from chronic mental illness such as schizophrenia or schizo affective disorders. People with this ailment have incidents that trigger "episodes" and usually require escorts when traveling. The airline should have been notified.

NIGERIANS SHOULD STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE MAD. Mental illness is not mental retardation.

It looks like cover up. Time shall reveal the true story

Y m

Who is fooling who?(go to nursery school and tell them that)the only thing is to stop the next occurrence.all of them are mentaly derange(all moslem extremists)a normal person can never think of blowing himself up with others.

ebamma: our mentally stable youths are all over searching for jobs,na mad man them come give job,naija na funny country

The security operatives are now psychiatrists abi? Why can't we just be truthful to ourselves for once.The precious lives of innocent Nigerians is at stake here.

Lie lie people. Dt woman just dey yarn okpata. Just tell us d truth dt a terrorist wanted to blow up d plane bt was unsuccedful and dt u wil try to beef up secuity in out airports instead of comin out to vomit dt trash fr$ ur mouth.
Wen will nigerians stop taking pple for granted?

Just imagine talk. This government is believing to be nothing to write home about. How can you tell me that a mad man, I mean a mare mad man would have left his home, bought a flight ticket and finally boarded the flight with no indication that this man is insane until the time that the plane took off in the air space that he notice he was to display madness nature. Ok! I agree with you as a fool you think I am. But sir, I have a question to ask. This your mad brother,how did he know the threat of Gboko Haram, how came about the device which he brought out in the plane as bob, did you descover that as spaner or harmer or how did he come to know where he was going? Now I know that the hand of our government is these killings. No doubt to your stupid investigation! But what was your action to the senetor that you discover harboring a member of the sect? Let me tell you, man: we are no longer fools as you think. One day it will happe in this country as it happened in Libya!!!

CLIQBOY: So mad man no see beta tin to play wit..na bomb be d nxt toy availablde..naija i hail

who said a bomb was on him...just talk witout reading d report..park well joor

In fact, this talk is no longer bearable to me. It has gone beyond for me to be spending time writting my mind on the post. Now I want to speak direct to this SSS. Pleas publish his number to me!!!

hmmm. Nigeria are fond of calling Suicide Bombers Mad men, so the new name for Boko Haram Sucide Bombers are now MAD MEN, the name suits them well

Youths, this is the time we have to take our right by force with any possible or impossible means before this people finish us. Our money they are stealing is no longer enough for them now is our lives. Let say "NO" to them and their children by taking arms to fight them before they finish us. No time again!!!

But why cant journalist go and interview the passengers who apprehended him and hear the full gist of what happened on the plane.


Instead of relying on official press releases which have obviously been doctored

+ agree! My question to his family is" when you discoverd the strange acts of your legitimate member what did you do to save his normal mental status? For the hotel management " at the time you discovered that your costmer is behaving strangly what was your report to the police and what was the reaction of the police when you reported him to them?