The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has debunked reports that luggage belonging to singer Tiwa Savage was stolen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Tiwa had claimed in a social media post on Wednesday that the private jet that brought her to Lagos was burgled and her item stolen.
“So our plane lands and while we are still on the runway, someone opens the cargo hold and steals our luggage.
“Pilot said he saw the cargo hold light, come on, how is this possible? How is this safe?
“Someone can just walk on a runway and steal luggage from a plane
“FAAN this means anyone including terrorists can have access to planes,
“That could have been a bomb someone could have put in there,” Tiwa wrote.
Items belonging to Wizkid were also reportedly stolen.
Without mentioning Tiwa and Wizkid, FAAN, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, in Lagos on Wednesday night, described the allegations as baseless and practically impossible.
Yakubu said it was not possible for anyone to burgle an aircraft in motion.
“Furthermore, because aircraft are highly technical machines, it is practically impossible for anyone who does not have the requisite training and competence to operate or tamper with the baggage compartment,” she added.
Yakubu recalled that two incidents of alleged poaching were recently reported, the latest being that which occurred on a chartered flight from Uyo to Lagos on December 26.
According to her, in both instances, preliminary findings from investigations conducted by an inter-agency committee set up to probe the allegations could not substantiate the claims.
She said: “The purported victims in the said cases also did not make themselves available for questioning, in the quest to unravel the case.
“Although investigations are still on going, FAAN will like to reassure travellers and the general public that with the level of safety and security systems on ground at the airports.
“It is practically impossible for an aircraft to be burgled within our runways and aprons.”
