Modu Sheriff, Political Associates Allowed To Land Despite Restriction
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, (THEWILL) - The people of Borno State have continued to live with the pains of the closure of the Maiduguri International Airport to commercial flights by security forces since June 27.
But the pains of travelling the long distance by road to Kano to catch up with their flights is now being compounded by the dangers along the road.
Governor Kashim Shettima's elder brother, Alhaji Shettima Mohammed Shettima, appeared to be the first casualty as he suffered multiple fractures on both legs in a fatal auto crash while on a trip to Kano to catch up a Max Airline, departing from Kano to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj. . . .
His police orderly was not however lucky enough as he died from injuries sustained during the accident. The accident was said to have occurred Friday afternoon, 20 kilometres away from Damban in Bauchi State.The police orderly who died in the crash was attached to Mohammed Shettima following threats to his life by Boko Haram just as he is also considered a high risk person because of his relationship with the governor.
Gov. Shettima was even compelled to travel by road to visit his brother at the Kano hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
It would be recalled that the Maiduguri International Airport, which was closed to commercial flights since February this year after the bombing of the Air Force base in the town by Boko Haram was eventually closed by the Federal Government to all manner of the flights on June 27 for three months due to security concerns. The closure has compelled intending pilgrims for this year's lesser hajj to travel by road to Kano amidst fear over their safety.
A Max Airline chartered flight which arrived Maiduguri airport on Friday, June 27 to airlift 276 already screened intending pilgrims from Borno and Yobe States, was turned back empty by security operatives at the airport.
The closure caused hiccups in the handling of activities of the state government especially those that involved support from the federal government institutions in Abuja as officials of the state government have had to travel the long distance by road to Abuja. But amid the restriction, the former governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was allowed by the Federal Government to fly into Maiduguri aboard a chartered flight.
Sheriff arrived the airport Monday at about 1:40pm in his private jet with registration number 5NBMH and was given protection by dozens of soldiers led by the Garrison Commander, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, Colonel D.R. Hassan.
Others who arrived with him in the chartered flight include Mohammed Imam, a 2015 governornorship aspirant of the state, Hon. AbdulRahman Terab, Hon. Lawan Isa and Hon. Peter Biye, all members of House of Representatives from the state.
Others are Alhaji Mala Othman and Alhaji Yusuf Adamu, both former chairman and secretary of the defunct All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) respectively. They were all welcome to by a tumultuous crowd chanting PDP slogan.
The chartered plane later left the airport at 2:22pm and is expected to return on Tuesday to take the former governor, who is expected to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and lead the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno State , back to Abuja.
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