A Nigerian man has shared a concerning experience at an airport after a fellow Nigerian traveller allegedly asked him to check in his luggage to avoid paying an excess baggage fee.

The man said he was at the airport preparing to board an 8 a.m. flight and only had a small bag with him when the stranger approached him after apparently recognising his accent.

Stranger Asked Him to Check In Luggage

According to the traveller, the stranger claimed his luggage was overweight and asked if he could check it in under the man’s name because he did not have any check-in baggage.

He recalled:

“I see you don’t have a check-in bag. Can you help me check in mine? Mine is overweight and I don’t want to pay extra for luggage. I’m like, okay, I can help. But ask the woman beside me. Can I do this? Because I haven’t done it before,” he recounted.

Although the stranger reportedly opened the bag and showed him clothes and shoes, the man said he became increasingly uncomfortable with the situation.

Traveller Declines to Take the Risk

He explained that he realised he could not be certain about everything inside the luggage, despite what the stranger had shown him.

“What if we land in the country we’re going to and you’re carrying something illegal? It’s going to be checked under my name. So if they stop the bag, they’re gonna find me. I’m like, this can get me in trouble,” he added.

The man eventually decided not to accept the luggage, choosing to trust his instincts despite initially wanting to help the stranger avoid the additional baggage charge.

The experience has sparked conversations about the risks of accepting luggage from strangers, particularly when travellers could potentially be held responsible for items found inside bags checked under their names.