|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Summary
The NCAA is investigating the Ibom Air incident in which Comfort Emmanson was dragged from a flight with her shirt torn after being arrested and banned from flying locally and internationally. This was after Comfort was placed on an indefinite ban from airline travel and remanded in Kiriiri. Comedian Bovi has also retracted his earlier criticism and called for the arrest of whoever shared the uncensored video.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun investigating the August 10, 2025, incident involving Ibom Air passenger Comfort Emmanson. The agency is calling on all passengers aboard the Uyo–Lagos flight (IAN513) to provide firsthand accounts.
Before this investigation was announced, Comfort had been arrested, remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre, and charged in court. She was also banned indefinitely from Ibom Air, while the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) placed her on a lifetime no-fly list for both domestic and international flights.
According to Ibom Air, the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when Comfort refused to switch off her mobile phone, insisting it was already in flight mode. The airline claimed her behaviour posed a threat to the safety of its crew, passengers, and aircraft. Viral videos show airline officials aggressively dragging Comfort from the plane, tearing her shirt and exposing her bare chest, after other passengers have unboarded.
In a statement on August 12, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, urged witnesses to contact him via direct message or email at michael.achimugu@ncaa.gov.ng.
“The goal is to hold everyone culpable and accountable, not just the passenger, and to use the incident as a learning opportunity to improve safety protocols and address gaps in the system,” he said, adding that while unruly behaviour would not be excused, every other person who was culpable down the line will be held accountable.”
Michael’s statement has drawn criticism online. One social media user questioned the integrity of the investigation and the perceived selective nature of justice.
@Earthtribeboy, said, “What you’re seeing is the machinery at work to fool people. There’s something called a flight manifest, which he could have used. Call people on the list and document their responses. But this is the usual PR to fool you into thinking they’re doing something. A Lagos boy’s trick.”
Meanwhile, multiple witnesses on the aircraft have given accounts that contradict Ibom Air’s statement. An eyewitness, in a WhatsApp voice note, accused the air hostess in the viral video of being “power drunk,” smashing Comfort’s phone, calling her a prostitute, and even silencing a pastor who tried to defend her. The witness alleged that the air hostess slapped Comfort, pushed her to the floor, and escalated the situation despite passengers’ attempts to calm things down.
Another passenger, Tunde A. Ibrahim, claimed on Facebook that the crew blocked Comfort from leaving over a phone dispute, forced her back into her seat, and called airport security to apprehend her.
Similarly, Comedian Bovi retracted his previous comment that Comfort Emmanson “needed mental treatment” after watching the uncensored video. He deleted his initial post, saying,
“Please let the appropriate authorities arrest the person who made that video without censoring the lady’s exposed body. The person who made that video without censoring her exposed body should also be made to face the law.”
