Nigerian airline passenger caught ‘stealing’ N.2m

Airline passenger ‘steals’ N.2m

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor  of The Nation Online.

There was a mild drama onboard an Arik Air flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, into the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday. A passenger on the Business Class allegedly stole N200,000 belonging to another passenger in the same class.


The Nation learnt that the passenger allegedly stood up when the aircraft attained cruising altitude, opened the overhead cabin, under the pretext that he was searching for some missing items in his luggage, and took the cash belonging to his co-passenger.


But one of the vigilant passengers, who reportedly watched the suspect during the act, alerted the crew.
The crew approached the male suspect, who occupied seat 3C, for verification.


As the aircraft, with flight number W3 162 ABV-LO, arrived the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the airline’s security officials handed the passenger to aviation security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). It was learnt that the passenger was transferred with the “exhibit” to the domestic wing’s police station for further investigation and possible prosecution.


FAAN’s Director of Security, Sir Wendel Ogunedo, confirmed the incident. He said the matter has been handed over to the police.