Man jailed for stealing at Lagos Airport

A man, Okereobede Chiwendu (38), has been jailed for stealing items belonging to passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He was caught in the act last week Monday and charged with conspiracy and stealing.


Okereobede was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the weekend.

The General Manager (Corporate Communications) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, said “missing luggage” was rampant at the airport.

He said the suspect was caught on Close Circuit Television (CCTV) “stealing” luggage.

Dati said: “The suspect, an employee of the Check Port Security (the official airline security company of the Emirate Airlines), was identified in the footage and apprehended. He confessed to giving Mr. Oriola Afeez, a Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) official, who is at large, permission to go ahead with pilfering on the parked aircraft while he gave him protection inside the aircraft bulk hold.

“The culprit confessed to aiding and abetting the NAHCO staff in removing an I-pad computer and other valuables belonging to passengers, which were sold and the proceeds, N8,000, was given to him.
“This discovery has confirmed that pilfering gangs are mainly cargo handling agents and airline security officials, who have been operating from inside parked aircraft, contrary to the wrong assumption that pilfering was done inside the terminal.”

The police are on the trail of the NAHCO staff. FAAN assured passengers of the safety of life and property at airports.