5:T748,

A mild drama played itself out this afternoon when armed men of the Nigeria Customs Service arrested and detained two helicopters for about an hour along Apapa - Oshodi Expressway in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.

The two brand new helicopters were being conveyed by NESTOIL trucks from the Apapa area when they were intercepted by Customs men at Toyota Bus Stop near Oshodi. The owners of the helicopters and the reason for the action of the Customs men are not yet known.

An eyewitness, Mr. Michael Ubani, told News Express that the drivers of the trucks appeared to have fled when the Customs men, apparently acting on a tip-off, suddenly appeared on the scene.

“There were three trucks in all,” Mr. Ubani said. “Two of them were carrying the helicopters while the third carried the blades. The suspiscion is that the helicopters are just coming from the wharf and might have been intercepted in connection with import duties but no one can say clearly as the armed Customs men did not allow anyone to come close to ask questions or even take pictures,” said Mr. Ubani, who managed to take some shots from a distance.

News Express reports that this is the second time in just over two months that helicoptesr would cause a stir in Lagos. On June 13, residents in the Igando area woke up to find a light plane with registration number N972TF at Dapsey filling station along the Lagos State University (LASU) - Iba Road. It later turned out that the unserviceable helicopter was being towed away by agents of Captain Matthew Ekeinde, husband of Nollywood diva Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, when the towing truck developed problems. It took days before Captain Ekeinde was able to move it away and thus end the drama.

•Photo by Michael Ubani shows one of the helicopters.

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