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Man nabbed for stealing laptop onboard Ibom Air, faces prosecution

A passenger on Ibom Air Flight Q1300 from Lagos to Abuja, ogheneochuko David was on Wednesday apprehended for allegedly taking another passenger’s laptop from his laptop in the overhead cabin.

Trouble started when the owner of the laptop, who suspected the movement of David within the aircraft, decided to check where his laptop was kept and immediately realized the item was no longer there. He raised the alarm by notifying the crew members accordingly.

A search was said to have been 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 for further investigation.

A statement from the General Manager, of Ibom Air, Aniekan Essienette stated that the police had since confirmed that the suspect was 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.

She stated that in line with the carrier’s corporate policy, it has zero tolerance for the sort of criminal activity on board its flights and vowed to prosecute any offenders to the full extent of the law.

It would be recalled that one Kingsley Chinsunum was alleged to have stolen the sum of one hundred thousand Naira (N100,000.00) from a wallet kept inside a bag in the overhead bin, while on board Ibom Air flight 4150 at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal two Ikeja, on the 31st of  May 31st, 2023.

He had since been charged to court and is presently facing trial at the Ikeja Magisterial District.

Not too long ago, a passenger, one Mr. 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 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 report of an increase in stealing onboard aircraft highlights the importance of passengers being 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”, she added.

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