THIEVES ARRESTED INSIDE AIRCRAFT AT LAGOS AIRPORT

Two passengers on an Abuja-bound Med-View Airline flight were yesterday arrested by security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for stealing N1.5 million cash from the hand-luggage compartment of the aircraft.

The flight, which was scheduled to depart the airport for Abuja at 9 a.m., was delayed as a result of the incident.

One of the passengers, from whose luggage the money was stolen, raised the alarm which attracted other passengers.

In the pandemonium that ensued, the security personnel were invited by the cabin crew. 
The pilot insisted that nobody must leave the aircraft until the arrival of the security personnel. 

When they arrived, two of the passengers were fingered as having stolen the cash and the search started with them.

The cash was found in their pockets. 

Realising that the game was up, they begged for forgiveness but the remaining passengers insisted that they must be punished.

The presence of the security personnel saved them from being beaten up.
They were immediately taken away for interrogation at FAAN’s Crime Investigation Bureau, from where they would be handed over to the police for further investigations.
General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Yakubu Dati, confirmed the incident,

He assured the public, especially passengers, that “people engaged in nefarious activities at our airports will no longer find life comfortable as adequate security measures have been put in place to make airports safer and more secure.”

Dati also congratulated the officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command for arresting the gang of armed robbers who raided the car park of the airport on March 13, 2013 and dispossessed illegal bureau de change operators of huge sums of money.

According to Dati, the gallantry and professionalism shown by the policemen, who apprehended the robbers and brought them to justice, is commendable.

He also appreciated the cooperation that the Airport Police Command extends to FAAN’s Directorate of Aviation Security Services in checking crime and other nefarious activities around the airports nationwide, especially the international airports, which are major gateways into Nigeria.

The FAAN spokesman said the authority in collaboration with other security agencies at airports, has recently put measures in place, including the employment of competent hands, to make airports safer and more secure, in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the aviation industry.

Source: Compass