AKWA IBOM AIRPORT DRAMA: Passenger Caught Stealing N290,000 from Fellow Traveller Before Ibom Air Takeoff

A dramatic scene unfolded on Wednesday morning aboard an Ibom Air flight scheduled to depart from Lagos to Abuja, when a male passenger was apprehended for allegedly stealing N290,000 from a foreign national’s luggage.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 7:00 a.m. while boarding was being concluded. The foreign passenger reportedly raised an alarm after discovering that a sum of N290,000 had gone missing from his bag, which was stored in the aircraft’s overhead compartment.

Cabin crew members swiftly intervened to calm the situation as other passengers looked on. Another traveller then claimed to have seen a man tampering with the victim’s bag shortly before the alarm was raised. The suspect, however, vehemently denied the accusation.

Following the commotion, Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel boarded the plane to assist. A search of the suspect’s belongings initially yielded nothing, but further checks led to the discovery of part of the stolen cash hidden in his socks, while the remainder was found concealed beneath his seat during a body search.

The suspect was immediately deboarded and handed over to the police for further investigation.

Confirming the incident, Ms. Annie Essienette, the Spokesperson for Ibom Air, commended the quick response of both the crew and airport security personnel, noting that their coordinated actions prevented the situation from escalating.

“Yes, the incident is true, and the timely intervention of both the crew and security operatives helped to restore calm immediately. The suspect was handed over to the police. However, the victim is not interested in pressing charges, so the suspect may be released,” Essienette said.

The incident has since raised concerns among passengers about the growing cases of in-flight theft, with many calling for stricter pre-boarding checks and surveillance on domestic flights.