FIDA Nigeria has followed with concern the recent events surrounding the forcible evacuation of Ms. Comfort Emmanson from an Ibom Air flight on August 10, 2025, and the subsequent immediate lifetime “No Fly” ban issued by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON).
While we maintain that violence or unruly conduct onboard an aircraft is unacceptable and must be addressed within the ambit of the law, we are equally disturbed by the manner in which this incident was handled and the broader implications for passengers’ rights, due process, and the image of Nigeria’s aviation sector.
From the available footage of the forceful evacuation of Ms. Comfort from the Ibom Air aircraft, and from eyewitness accounts, we seek clarification as to why the female Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers present were not instructed to apprehend the female passenger in line with best practices and gender sensitive arrest protocols.
Furthermore, we are concerned as to why Ms. Emmanson was detained in the plane until other passengers left, and whether having been forcibly removed from the aircraft, was duly informed of her rights before being formally placed under arrest.
We are quite alarmed that the evacuation of Ms. Emmanson degenerated into what appeared to be an undignified mob scene, with multiple spectators recording instead of a controlled and professional intervention.
We are furthermore shocked at the deliberate release of such a recording to the public space.
We earnestly demand that Ibom Air provide the official in-flight recordings to clarify what actually transpired before the incident escalated and degenerated to violence fits on both sides. We stress that both sides must be objectively heard and full investigation must take place before any punishment is dispensed.
FIDA Nigeria believes that the video of her humiliation and forceful removal, which circulated widely in the public space, clearly violated her fundamental right to dignity and privacy as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Not to mention the No Flight lifetime ban without full investigation which can be construed as an infringement of her right to fair hearing and a violation of her right to movement.
FIDA Nigeria is further troubled by the apparent awareness of the officers that they were being filmed, and the subsequent prioritization of optics over good etiquette, due process and lawful procedure. Such conduct also warrants prompt disciplinary action.
Additionally, the swiftness with which the lifetime ban was imposed which raises concerns as to whether due process was fully observed also points to the differential treatment in the last two cases of misconduct at the airport where the person’s concerned left with a pat on the wrist and a blatant disregard of the constitutional presumption of innocence in her favour, until proven otherwise by a competent Court.
As a nation governed by the rule of law, disciplinary measures must across board be proportionate, evidence based, and follow transparent investigation. That way, justice will not only be done but seen to be done.
We note that eyewitness accounts do not conclusively establish what occurred inside the aircraft after other passengers had disembarked. The absence of such clarity undermines confidence in the fairness of the sanction.
This incident has exposed broader systemic gaps in Nigeria’s aviation security framework. It suggests that AVSEC personnel may not be adequately trained to handle such situations professionally and proportionately.
FIDA Nigeria calls on stakeholders in the aviation industry to implement measures that immediately adequately sensitize passengers about expected conduct and the legal consequences of unruly behavior.
Regular training and retraining of airline personnel and aviation marshals should be conducted to strengthen crisis management protocols and de-escalate threats onboard and at our airports. This will ensure operational lapses do not fuel public disorder while safeguarding the rights of passengers.
Passengers have rights and must at all times be treated with respect and dignity. Likewise passengers must reciprocate and cooperate with airlines and airport officials in the discharge of their necessary roles.
The handling of this case must serve as a catalyst for stakeholder engagement, bringing together security agencies, airlines, civil society, and passenger advocacy groups to ensure that safety, rights, and dignity are upheld equally.
As advocates for justice, we reiterate that safety in aviation must never come at the expense of human rights, and human rights must never compromise safety. Both can and must be achieved through professionalism, training, and accountability.
We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), AVSEC, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to urgently review their stance, withdraw the life ban, and offer an apology to the passenger; reform their security and crisis response protocols, and conduct an objective full investigation into the current incidence, before any punishment is dispensed.
FIDA Nigeria is interested in this matter.
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