The management of Ibom Air said a passenger on its early morning Lagos-Abuja flight, Mr Ogeneochuko David, was apprehended for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his bag in the overhead cabin.
The airline said in a statement that the incident happened on Wednesday, July 26 2023.
The statement said the owner of the laptop, who suspected the suspect’s movement within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realised the item had missed.
Subsequently, he raised the alarm by notifying the crew members accordingly.
“A search was immediately instituted, which led to about half an hour delay, and the laptop was found with Mr. David.
“He was immediately offloaded and handed over to the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) aviation security (AVSEC) for further investigation, who then handed him over to the Police for further investigation.
“The police have since confirmed that the suspect is a member of a large syndicate specializing in stealing onboard aircraft.
“The owner of the laptop voluntarily stepped down from the flight to assist with the investigation and promised to follow up with the case to its logical conclusion,” the airline said.
The airline urged passengers to be vigilant when boarding as the incidence of onboard stealing becomes rampant.
“The report of an increase in stealing onboard aircraft highlights the importance of passengers to be extra vigilant and attentive to their belongings during flights.
“Following instructions from the crew members and taking necessary precautions can help minimize such incidents.
“Passengers are therefore encouraged to report any suspicious activities they observe during their flights to the crew members immediately, as early intervention can prevent potential thefts and ensure a safer travel experience for everyone on board.”
For its part, the airlines said it has zero tolerance “for this sort of criminal activity on board our flights and will prosecute any offenders to the full extent of the law.”
