Airport heist: How syndicates target, loot passengers’ luggage

On December 15, 2025, Samson Oladipupo boarded a RwandaAir WB305 Boeing 737-800 flight from Dubai to Lagos, eager to return home after six years abroad.

The journey was meant to mark a joyful milestone as he prepared for his wedding.

But within hours of landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, what should have been a celebratory homecoming turned into a stressful ordeal.

According to Samson, passengers on the flight were informed on arrival that their luggage would not be available until the next day.

The delay, he said, was frustrating but initially manageable until he returned to the airport to retrieve his bags.

What he encountered, however, left him shaken.

“The first bag I saw was torn and badly damaged. When I opened it, some of my items had been stolen. My wedding ring, clothes, shoes, gifts for my family and in-laws were missing. They took the ring and left the pouch, removed the wristwatch and left the box,” he alleged.

He claimed the situation worsened when his second bag arrived with additional items missing.

He noted that around him, other passengers on the same flight raised similar complaints, lamenting their losses in anger and disbelief.

“I almost went mad. My wedding arrangement was disrupted. I had to go and buy a lower-quality ring. The original ring alone cost about N400,000, and the wristwatch about N120,000. In total, I lost items worth over N1m. For the first few days, I wasn’t myself. I later found out some other things I didn’t even realise were missing until I needed them,” he claimed.

Oladipupo said he eventually did not pursue legal action after lodging complaints, admitting that issues around baggage declaration during check-in complicated his case.

He alleged that some airport workers deliberately target bags flagged for excess weight.

“By default, you are entitled to 23kg. One of my bags weighed about 24.8kg and the other about 24.6kg. At Dubai airport, the attendant said I needed to pay for excess luggage, but I appealed, and the bags were tagged at the standard 23kg allowance,” he explained.

According to him, on arrival in Nigeria, an airport attendant questioned whether he had paid for excess baggage.

“When she weighed the bag, it still read about 23.4kg. If I had pressed charges, I would still have been at a disadvantage because the official tag showed 23kg. What they do is look out for bags with excess luggage that are not properly tagged. If you didn’t pay, they tamper with your bag,” he said.

Across different routes and timelines, travellers continue to recount troubling experiences involving mishandled luggage, including delayed, damaged, pilfered, or permanently lost bags.

One such traveller, Darrell Abernathy, described a similar ordeal after his luggage went missing months earlier.

“My luggage was lost back in September 2025, and it has been nearly impossible to recover anything,” he said.

Abernathy added that items worth over $6,000 were lost, and despite submitting receipts, efforts to secure compensation or recover his belongings have been unsuccessful.

33.4 million mishandled bags in 2024 — Report

According to the SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025 Report, an annual global aviation industry publication by the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques, global mishandled luggage rates have declined over the years despite rising passenger traffic worldwide.

The report showed that in 2007, airlines recorded approximately 18.9 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers, representing about 46.9 million affected bags globally.

However, improvements in baggage-tracking technologies and handling systems reduced the figure to 5.73 bags per 1,000 passengers by 2016, reflecting a nearly 70 per cent decline.

Mishandling rates remained relatively stable between 2019 and the pre-pandemic period at about 5.5 to 5.7 bags per 1,000 passengers, before rising sharply in 2022 to 7.6 per 1,000 passengers amid post-COVID-19 disruptions, staffing shortages, and increased travel demand.

By 2023, the figure declined to 6.9 bags per 1,000 passengers, equivalent to about 36.1 million mishandled bags globally.

In 2024, the global rate further improved to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers, representing about 33.4 million mishandled bags, despite global passenger traffic reaching a record 5.3 billion travellers.

The report further showed that delayed baggage accounted for about 74 per cent of mishandled baggage globally in 2024, with more than 66 per cent resolved within 48 hours through tracking systems such as WorldTracer.

Damaged or pilfered luggage accounted for about 18 per cent, while permanently lost or stolen bags represented roughly eight per cent of mishandled baggage worldwide.

SITA also estimated that baggage mishandling costs the global aviation industry about $5 billion annually, with international flights recording nearly six times higher mishandling rates than domestic operations.

Although global statistics indicate that theft-related incidents represent a relatively small share of total baggage handling cases, reports of pilfering by baggage handlers, airport workers, and ground staff continue to raise concerns in several countries, including Nigeria.

According to records from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, cases involving delayed, missing, or tampered baggage have remained a recurring issue, particularly on international routes like the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

NCAA data showed that in 2017 alone, about 22,584 bags on international flights were reported delayed or missing, while 91 domestic bags were similarly reported missing or delayed, with 83 later recovered.

In the first half of 2024, the NCAA disclosed that approximately 19,274 bags were reported delayed or missing across airlines operating in Nigeria.

Of this figure, 18,955 cases were recorded on international routes, while 319 occurred on domestic flights.

The authority noted that most of the affected international baggage was eventually recovered. However, at a point during the review period, about 1,590 bags remained unaccounted for.

According to the NCAA, passengers whose luggage gets delayed or goes missing are entitled to compensation under existing aviation regulations.

It stated that compensation for delayed domestic baggage is currently pegged at N10,000, while international claims may range from about $170 for delayed luggage to as much as $1,000 for lost baggage, depending on airline policies and the circumstances of each case.

Regional data from SITA further showed that the Middle East and Africa recorded one of the lowest baggage mishandling rates globally in 2024, at 6.02 bags per 1,000 passengers.

This represented a slight increase from 4.5 in 2023, but it remained below the global average of 6.3.

Despite advances in global baggage handling technology, allegations of theft involving valuables such as cash, electronics, jewellery, clothing, and personal effects continue to dominate passenger complaints in Nigeria.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in particular, has repeatedly featured in reports of alleged tampering with checked-in luggage by ground staff and handlers.

More troubling developments

Beyond isolated complaints, findings by Saturday PidomNigeria show that cases of delayed, missing, and allegedly tampered luggage continue to leave many passengers stranded, frustrated, and financially distressed.

One affected passenger, Adigun Olalekan, told our correspondent at Murtala Muhammed International Airport how he lost valuables worth over N2.5 million while travelling from Abuja to Moscow via Ethiopian Airlines in June 2025.

He claimed to have checked in a 32kg bag containing personal belongings and items entrusted to him by a friend for delivery in Moscow, and was issued baggage tag number ET147062.

However, upon arrival, the luggage failed to arrive at its destination.

“I travelled from Abuja to Moscow in June last year (2025) through Ethiopian Airlines and had a bag with 32kg items. All the personal items I lost were worth over N2.5 million. A friend bought some items for someone and asked me to deliver them in Moscow, but on getting there, the bag did not arrive,” he alleged.

Olalekan explained that he immediately reported the incident in line with aviation procedures and spent about two weeks in Moscow attempting to recover the luggage, but all efforts proved abortive.

The Property Irregularity Report he provided to our correspondent carried reference number DMEET11010/14JUN25/0721GMT.

“When I was returning to Abuja, I went to the Moscow office again. They took me round the stores with policemen, but they did not see it. The police in Moscow even took a picture of me and collected all my details, promising to call me later. When I got to Addis Ababa, I also complained there.

“When I returned to Nigeria, I went to the Ethiopian Airlines office in Abuja on July 3 and was asked to list all the items inside the luggage, which I did, but nothing has been done till now. There was no compensation, and nothing was done,” Olalekan lamented.

During a visit to MMIA on Wednesday (May 20), our correspondent observed passengers at different intervals emerging from the arrival terminal with damaged luggage and visible frustration over delayed or missing bags.

While some travellers were joyfully reunited with waiting relatives and friends, others appeared distressed after discovering that their luggage had been delayed, damaged, or allegedly tampered with.

At the arrival hall, an agitated female passenger briefly spoke to our correspondent after allegedly discovering her luggage had been damaged.

“Please, please leave me. Yes, they destroyed my box, and I have complained. They will address it,” she said before walking away.

Another passenger, Qodir Ibrahim, who arrived from Egypt ahead of the Eid-el-Adha celebration in Kwara State, said he and his wife were left stranded after their luggage failed to arrive.

The couple said they were left with only their hand luggage and the clothes they wore during the journey.

“They said our luggage will not arrive today. Aside from the clothes we wore and this small bag, nothing else. They did not tell us before now. We were asked to return for the luggage on Friday. That means we may be forced to lodge in Lagos till Friday,” he said.

A businessman, Mr Alade Adeola, also recounted losing items worth millions of naira due to alleged mishandling and disappearance of luggage during international travel.

He said delayed and missing baggage has become a recurring problem for many international travellers, especially during peak travel seasons.

“Most airlines are known for baggage delay and missing items, especially during October, November and December. The expectation is that when you lose items, you complain and get compensated. I have not experienced such compensation.

“Nothing was done despite several complaints. They will tell you they will get back to you, but they won’t. Whenever you go there, they keep saying they are still searching for it until you get tired,” he said.

Adeola added that while passengers may be able to pursue legal action when such incidents occur within Nigeria, doing so becomes significantly more difficult when it happens abroad.

Emerging trend of mishandling

Several viral videos circulating online have shown airport workers carelessly handling passengers’ luggage, with some seen throwing or kicking bags during offloading operations.

In one video posted on YouTube by Milopax (@milopax), an airport worker inside a cargo hold was seen throwing luggage from an aircraft onto the ground instead of placing it on the conveyor belt.

Similarly, a user on X (formerly Twitter), identified as Chimatex1 (@Chimatx1), posted a video on May 12 showing his damaged luggage alongside an empty phone package he claimed was stolen during transit.

He wrote: “@flyethiopian (Ethiopian Airlines). This is what happened to me on 11/05/2026. I came back from China to Nigeria. Ethiopian Airlines people vandalised my bag at the transit and stole mobile phones I got from China, five mobile phones.”

Another X user, Eezzi. A (@eezzibillions), also complained about delayed baggage involving EgyptAir.

“@EGYPTAIR, it has been four days, and the baggage on your flight from Manchester to Lagos is yet to arrive. No clear information, and your passengers are left stranded. Please fix this urgently. We need our belongings,” the user wrote.

Similarly, Saeed R. (@saeedrhn) narrated how his luggage went missing after travelling with Etihad Airways.

“@etihad (Etihad Airways), I travelled with you after a long time – great experience and amazing crew, but my bag is missing. It has everything I need for my short visit. I’m hopeful you can help me track it down ASAP! Will share my case number in DP just in case,” he posted.

Also, Barnabas Musa (@jarumibarnabas) accused Ethiopian Airlines of failing to account for his missing luggage after a trip in May 2026.

“Dear Ethiopian Airlines Customer Relations, I am writing to formally lodge a serious complaint and legal warning regarding the disappearance of my checked luggage during my journey with Ethiopian Airlines on 24th May 2026,” he wrote.

Systemic stealing

Findings by Saturday PidomNigeria revealed what many passengers described as a coordinated pattern of theft targeting checked luggage, particularly bags suspected to contain valuable items.

In a video posted by Newsflare.com, an airport worker inside an aircraft luggage compartment at Phuket Airport in Thailand was seen allegedly opening passengers’ bags one after another and searching through their contents.

Explaining the systemic approach used to steal his wedding ring and other items from his bag, a passenger, Bimbo Olaitan, alleged that bags with zippers were particularly vulnerable to theft.

“No matter the bag you carry, once there is a zip, they will use razor blade or pen to open the zip and remove any valuable item,” she claimed.

Syndicates responsible for baggage pilfering – source

A baggage handler who pleaded anonymity for fear of victimisation alleged that organised syndicates operating within airports were responsible for many cases of baggage pilfering.

According to the source, some airport workers collaborate in stealing valuables from passengers’ luggage and have developed methods of evading security surveillance within airport facilities.

He said, “There are bad eggs among the handlers, and these are the ones in the pilfering syndicate. It is a global syndicate.”

The source claimed that members of the syndicate somehow identify bags containing valuable items and deliberately target them.

He further alleged that the syndicates involve several individuals working together, including buyers who purchase stolen items.

Speaking on how stolen goods are allegedly moved out of airport premises, the source claimed that some workers use operational vehicles to beat security checks.

“The question is, when they steal these items, how do they move them out of the airport? Most of the time they use toilet bowser trucks, catering vans and waste disposal vans,” he alleged.

The source linked the situation to poor workers’ welfare and the country’s economic challenges, saying inadequate salaries could push some workers into corruption.

“If some people in offices steal with biro because that is what they have access to, these people (baggage thieves) do not have the opportunity to steal with biro, so they steal from your luggage,” he said.

The source, however, maintained that employers must improve staff welfare and remuneration to reduce the temptation for workers to engage in theft.

“If you are paid well, there won’t be temptation to steal except for those who are naturally born to steal,” he added.

Poor baggage screening fueling airport thefts – Expert

Aviation expert and former Commandant of the MMIA, John Ojikutu, blamed poor baggage screening and inadequate expertise among security personnel for recurring thefts and missing items at airports.

Speaking with our correspondent, he described the situation as a “complicated security issue,” stressing that the International Civil Aviation Organisation provides for airlines’ secondary screening of checked-in baggage to detect lapses missed during airport checks.

“If these are efficiently done by the airlines, any defect by the airport screening can easily be detected by the airlines at the departing airport or at the arrival airport,” Ojikutu said.

The aviation expert added, “Unfortunately, not many of those security services personnel know what they should be looking for.”

Speaking on complaints involving some foreign carriers, Ojikutu said, “Ethiopian Airlines has been like that since I knew about it in 1990/94 at MMIA and has not changed. Am surprised about Rwanda Air, which I had the privilege to be in the IATA team that did auditing on it at Kigali Airport for one month. Things might have changed.”

Effective baggage handlers screening required – Aviation Association

Chairman of the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria, Adigun Olaniyi, called for thorough screening and background checks for baggage handlers to curb theft, damage, and other security breaches at airports.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Olaniyi said there was no justification for stealing or tampering with passengers’ luggage, stressing that handlers must remain professional at all times despite the pressure associated with their duties.

According to him, the pressure to meet airlines’ service-level agreements often contributes to rough handling of baggage, especially when multiple international flights arrive simultaneously.

He said, “It could be due to work pressure when carriers arrive simultaneously, and handlers are trying to ensure quick turnaround. Most airlines have service-level agreements. For instance, the first bag on the conveyor belt may be required within 10 minutes after parking. International airlines penalise handlers for late baggage delivery. However, there are still bad eggs among baggage handlers.

“We have continued to emphasise to our members that people must be thoroughly screened with proper background checks and police clearance before they are employed. There must also be training and retraining because there are lots of temptations within the airport environment. Training will minimise these issues.”

Olaniyi further warned that ineffective screening of baggage handlers could pose serious security threats beyond luggage theft.

“The person who steals from bags can also compromise an aircraft or plant something dangerous inside a plane. The same route used to smuggle stolen items out can also be used to smuggle dangerous items into the airport,” he added.

The AGHAN chairman, however, maintained that some baggage damage and theft linked to Murtala Muhammed International Airport might have occurred in departure countries before arriving in Nigeria.

He urged FAAN to intensify oversight and monitoring of baggage-handling operations across airports.

“It beamed its searchlight on these issues because they are very important,” Olaniyi added.

He also urged operators to improve staff welfare through adequate compensation, incentives and bonuses, saying poor welfare could contribute to unethical behaviour among workers.

We compensate – Ethiopian Airlines

A customer care assistant officer at Ethiopian Airlines, who identified herself as Megartu, said the airline compensates passengers for delayed or stolen baggage as part of its standard procedure for handling luggage disruptions.

Speaking during a telephone interview, she explained that passengers must first formally report missing baggage at their arrival airport to open a tracking file.

Megartu said, “Once it is found, it will be delivered to the passenger. But if it is delayed beyond the stipulated time, the passenger is eligible for compensation.”

She further explained that once baggage is confirmed as delayed or lost, passengers are required to complete the necessary claim forms, after which compensation is processed in line with airline policies.

Megartu added that mishandled baggage cases follow the same procedure, noting that passengers can also contact the airline’s call centre for regular updates until the matter is resolved.

Efforts to obtain a response from RwandAir were unsuccessful, as calls and emails were not returned as of the time of filing this report.

NCAA issues advisory to passengers

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has advised air travellers to declare valuable items at check-in and record videos of their luggage before departure, as part of efforts to strengthen evidence in cases of missing or damaged baggage.

Speaking with Saturday PidomNigeria, the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said airlines are allowed under the Montreal Convention to reunite passengers with short-landed baggage within 21 days.

Addressing recent baggage disruptions involving EgyptAir at the Lagos airport, he said Nigerian passengers often travel with large volumes of luggage.

“Some airlines operate narrow-body aircraft on the Nigeria route, which have weight limitations. In such cases, excess baggage may be offloaded for safety reasons,” he explained.

He added, “I told the airline manager this morning (Tuesday) that in such situations, at most within three days, a wide-body aircraft should be deployed to bring in the luggage. Nobody’s baggage should be delayed beyond a week. We will not allow that,” noting that the NCAA had given the airline 48 hours to clear the backlog.

On missing valuables, Achimugu warned that passengers must declare such items at check-in.

“If you do not declare it at check-in, then the airline is not liable for any missing items,” he said.

He also advised passengers to document their luggage before departure.

“Before you check in your bag, make a short video of it. Capture its condition before it is boarded. That way, if anything happens, you have proof,” he said.

On broader baggage handling concerns, he noted that such practices are standard globally and assured that the NCAA would re-engage ground handling companies over complaints of luggage mishandling and alleged theft.