A Nigerian man identified as Kingsley Chinomso has been arrested for stealing a co-passenger’s laptop during a flight.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that Chinomso perpetrated the act onboard an airline belonging to Ibom Air.
The airline further announced that the suspect was currently under trial.
The General Manager, Marketing and Communication of the Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Aniekan Essienette confirmed the development in a statement.
Essienette said:
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“On the morning of July 26, during the boarding of Ibom Air flight Q1300 from Lagos to Abuja, a passenger, Ogeneochuko David, was apprehended for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his bag in the overhead cabin.
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“The owner of the laptop, who suspected the movement of the said David within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realised the item was no longer there. 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 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.
“The police have since confirmed that the suspect is a member of a syndicate, which specialises in stealing onboard an 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.”
According to Ibom Air, as per company policy, there was zero tolerance for any kind of criminal activity on its flights, as such, it will prosecute any offenders before the law.
The airline further reiterated that Chinomso allegedly stole N100,000 from a wallet stored in an overhead cabin, and owned by one Adebay Adlogba
while on board Ibom Flight 4150 at Murtala Muhammed Air Terminal 2, Ikeja, May 31.
The suspect, Ibom Air stated,
has since been charged in court and is currently on trial in the Ikeja Magistrates’ District
The airline said:
“Not too long ago, a passenger, one Adebayi Adelugba, staged the stealing of his own checked-in bag and declared it missing, accusing the airline of negligence amidst threats of litigation, but for Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, which caught him in the act.
“He was convicted of the crime of threat against Ibom Air, disturbance of public peace, and lies at the Ogba Magistrate court in Lagos, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two weeks imprisonment and a fine.”
The airline also disclosed that the increase in flights on board underscores the importance of being extremely careful and taking care of one’s belongings during flights.
Its statement added:
“Following instructions from the crew members and taking necessary precautions can help minimise 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.”
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