Social media activist Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly called Mr Jollof, may be prosecuted after a violent altercation aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Asaba to Lagos.
The clash, which occurred on Monday, reportedly escalated from a verbal exchange into a full-blown fight. Viral videos show crew members and passengers rushing to separate the men as punches were thrown.
In a Facebook video released after the incident, VDM claimed he struck Mr Jollof, stating, “I don chop Jollof father for inside the plane. He bite me, man, wey de bite,” suggesting he reacted after being bitten.
Although the cause of the confrontation remains unclear, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has condemned the incident.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, wrote on X that both men violated aviation safety regulations and will face sanctions.
“There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law,” he said, criticising their actions as hypocritical given their influence and public calls for responsible conduct.
Achimugu confirmed that United Nigeria Airlines has officially filed a report, stressing that the fight endangered passengers, crew, and the aircraft.
Under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act, 2022, acts of physical violence onboard an aircraft attract penalties ranging from a minimum N2 million fine to five years’ imprisonment, or both. Interference with crew duties also carries fines and possible jail terms.
In a statement posted on X, United Nigeria Airlines said its crew acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation. Both VDM and Mr Jollof were removed from the aircraft at Asaba International Airport and handed over to security authorities before the flight departed safely.
The airline reiterated its zero-tolerance stance toward actions that threaten flight safety and pledged continued commitment to protecting passengers.
The clash adds a new chapter to the ongoing online feud between the two men and underscores growing concerns over unruly behaviour in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
