There was drama aboard an Abuja-bound United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) flight yesterday after social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely called Mr Jollof, engaged in a physical fight that left passengers stunned.
A video circulating online shows the confrontation beginning as a heated verbal exchange before quickly escalating into a violent scuffle inside the aircraft. Cabin crew and alarmed passengers scrambled to intervene as the pair traded blows.
The clash occurred on the airline’s Asaba flight. Both men were immediately deboarded in line with aviation safety protocols, the airline said.
Although the cause of the altercation was unclear at press time, the fight is believed to be linked to an ongoing online dispute involving VDM and Mr Jollof’s wife.
Shortly after the incident, VDM released a video on Facebook claiming he confronted the comedian during the fray, alleging that Mr Jollof bit him. “I don chop Jollof’s father for inside the plane. He bite me, man wey de bite,” he said.
Meanwhile, the aviation sector has repeatedly raised concerns about rising cases of unruly passenger behaviour and the attendant safety risks, with experts calling for stricter enforcement of existing penalties.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the incident, saying its crew acted swiftly and professionally to de-escalate the situation. “Both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation,” the airline said.
It added that the flight departed safely afterwards, while the two men remained in the custody of airport authorities. The airline reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for conduct that threatens the security or well-being of passengers and crew.
