Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Airport Police Command has dismissed reports of a terrorist attack and security breach at the Asaba International Airport in Delta State, clarifying that the heavy security presence witnessed at the facility was part of a controlled national crisis-response simulation.
The clarification followed reports circulating on social media and other platforms suggesting that armed men had invaded the airport, triggering concerns among travellers, residents and other members of the public.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Airport Police Command, ASP Mohammed Adeola, the command said there had been no terrorist attack or security breach at the airport.
The police explained that the security operation was connected to a simulation exercise organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to assess the preparedness and response capabilities of security and emergency-management agencies.
Airport security operation was a simulation
The exercise formed part of the 2026 Rapid Response 3 (RR3) Crisis Response Exercise, a national multi-agency exercise organised by ONSA to test Nigeria’s ability to respond to complex security and emergency situations.
Official information from the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation shows that the five-day exercise commenced in Asaba on September 7 and was scheduled to run until September 11, 2026.
It was the first time the national crisis-response simulation was conducted outside the Federal Capital Territory, after six previous editions were held in Abuja.
The exercise included two simulated crisis scenarios, with the first taking place at the Asaba International Airport and the second along the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
According to ONSA, participating agencies operated under the Gold, Silver and Bronze command structure established under Nigeria’s National Crisis Management Doctrine.
The structure was designed to test strategic, operational and tactical coordination during a major emergency.
ONSA tested Nigeria’s crisis-response capacity
The Office of the National Security Adviser said the exercise was designed to evaluate existing crisis-response plans, strengthen inter-agency coordination and identify gaps that could affect Nigeria’s ability to respond to real emergencies.
Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan Olukayode, Director of the Presidential Communication Command and Control Centre and Director of the exercise, said the simulation provided participating agencies with an opportunity to test their ability to respond quickly and effectively to simulated emergencies.
The exercise also examined communication and information-sharing systems, command-and-control arrangements and the operational procedures used by security and emergency-response agencies.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation said the exercise was intended to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for complex emergencies and security-related incidents.
Authorities had also warned residents, travellers and other members of the public not to mistake the increased movement of security personnel, vehicles and emergency teams for an actual emergency.
Why the airport exercise triggered concern
The presence of large numbers of security and emergency personnel at an operational airport naturally attracted public attention, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
However, authorities said the deployment was planned and controlled as part of the simulation.
The Federal Ministry of Information said public sensitisation measures, including SMS, radio, television messages and other communication channels, were put in place to minimise misunderstanding and prevent panic.
ONSA also urged the media to rely on verified information when reporting activities connected with the exercise.
The clarification became particularly important after narratives describing the deployment as an actual attack or invasion began circulating online.
Delta hosts national exercise for first time
The choice of Asaba for the 2026 exercise represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to testing its national crisis-response architecture.
According to ONSA, the previous six national crisis-response simulations were held in Abuja. Moving the seventh edition to Delta State allowed authorities to assess how national response mechanisms would operate in a sub-national environment.
The exercise brought together security and emergency-response agencies, government ministries, departments and agencies, strategic partners and other stakeholders.
The Federal Ministry of Information described the exercise as an opportunity to test the effectiveness of national crisis-response arrangements outside the country’s administrative centre.
For a country dealing with different forms of security and humanitarian emergencies, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and natural disasters, the ability of agencies to coordinate quickly can be critical.
The exercise therefore went beyond simply testing the response of individual security agencies. It was designed to examine how different institutions communicate, share information and operate together during a complex emergency.
Simulation included airport and highway scenarios
The first simulated scenario was conducted at the Asaba International Airport, while another scenario was staged along the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
Radio Nigeria reported that the exercise was intended to test preparedness, responsiveness and inter-agency coordination among security and emergency-management stakeholders.
Authorities instructed participating personnel to treat incidents within the exercise as simulations and to operate according to established procedures and contingency plans.
Safety was also identified as a key consideration, with exercise officials warning participants against actions that could endanger personnel, members of the public, infrastructure or equipment.
At the end of the five-day exercise, Exercise Chief Umpire Navy Capt. Andrew Zidon said the simulation had identified gaps and challenges that could affect agencies’ ability to respond effectively to real-life emergencies.
Zidon called for sustained crisis-simulation exercises at the sub-national level and improved equipment and logistics for relevant government agencies.
Public urged to rely on verified information
The incident also highlights the risks posed by the rapid spread of unverified information during security-related situations.
Reports suggesting that an airport has been attacked or invaded can generate fear among travellers and residents, potentially disrupt operations and complicate the work of security agencies.
The Airport Police Command therefore urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports and obtain information about security incidents from authorised government and security agencies.
The command also reassured travellers, airport workers and other stakeholders that the security situation at the facility remained under control.
The warning is consistent with ONSA’s earlier appeal for the media and members of the public to distinguish between genuine emergencies and activities associated with the simulation exercise.
Why the clarification matters
The clarification is important not only for travellers using Asaba International Airport but also for public confidence in security information.
Airports are critical national infrastructure, and reports of a terrorist attack or security breach can have consequences beyond the immediate location. Such claims can affect passenger confidence, airport operations and perceptions of security.
In this case, however, available official information confirms that the security deployment was part of a planned exercise rather than an actual attack.
The exercise also demonstrates the importance of testing emergency-response systems before a real crisis occurs.
By recreating complex security situations in a controlled environment, authorities can identify weaknesses in communication, command structures, logistics and inter-agency cooperation without waiting for an actual emergency to expose those shortcomings.
What happens next
ONSA said lessons and observations from the Rapid Response 3 exercise would be documented and used to strengthen Nigeria’s national crisis-management architecture.
The exercise organisers also identified the need for continued training and improved resources to enable security and emergency agencies to respond more effectively to future crises.
For the public, the immediate message from the authorities is clear: the security operation witnessed at Asaba International Airport was a simulation and should not be mistaken for a terrorist attack or actual invasion.
Travellers and residents are encouraged to rely on verified information from authorised security and government sources, particularly when unusual security activity is taking place around critical infrastructure.
The Asaba exercise ultimately serves as a test of preparedness rather than evidence of an ongoing attack. Its value will depend on how effectively authorities use the lessons identified during the simulation to improve Nigeria’s ability to respond when a genuine emergency occurs.
Weng Global — Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation — official report on the 2026 Rapid Response 3 crisis-response exercise in Asaba.
- Radio Nigeria South South — report on the ONSA inter-agency crisis-response simulation in Delta State.
- News Agency of Nigeria report carried by GazetteNG — report on the conclusion and lessons from the Rapid Response 3 exercise.
- The Airport Police Command — clarification, as contained in the statement supplied for this report, that the security activity at Asaba International Airport was a simulation and not a terrorist attack.
