A shocking physical altercation erupted aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight on Monday, November 17, 2025, involving prominent social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as Verydarkman (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, also known as Mr. Jollof. The incident, which took place during the boarding process of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport, bound for Abuja, left fellow passengers in distress and quickly became a widely circulated online sensation after being captured on video.

Eyewitness accounts describe the confrontation beginning as a heated exchange before rapidly escalating into a full-blown scuffle, with both men trading blows inside the packed aircraft cabin. Cabin crew and frightened passengers were forced to intervene to separate the warring personalities. While the precise trigger for the fight remained unclear initially, reports suggest the clash was a spillover from an ongoing online feud between Verydarkman and Mr. Jollof’s wife. Following the incident, VDM posted a video on his Facebook page, claiming he had confronted the comedian and alleging that Mr. Jollof had bitten him during the struggle.

The immediate consequence of the disturbance was the deboarding of both Verydarkman and Mr. Jollof from the aircraft. United Nigeria Airlines confirmed in a statement that the two passengers were removed from the flight manifest and handed over to airport security. Mr. Ossai Success, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, also confirmed the arrests, noting that the individuals were subsequently taken to an interrogation room for questioning.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) swiftly announced its intention to launch a thorough investigation into the in-flight altercation, with spokesperson Michael Achimugu assuring that sanctions would follow based on the findings. Achimugu clarified the procedural steps involved: aviation security must first deboard and arrest the passengers for questioning. While the NCAA itself lacks prosecutorial powers, it plays a crucial role in advising airlines to blacklist unruly passengers and formally recommending their prosecution to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

Achimugu further detailed that airlines possess the authority to take swift internal actions, including placing disruptive passengers on a no-fly list, though such decisions typically follow management meetings and deliberations. He revealed that the NCAA was actively engaging officials to ascertain the immediate post-incident actions and was awaiting an incident report from United Nigeria Airlines, which was reportedly in a management meeting. The NCAA's investigation will be comprehensive, examining not only the conduct of Verydarkman and Mr. Jollof but also the actions of aviation security, pilots, and other personnel, including the response time and how long the incident lasted before security was called.

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Achimugu stressed that there is zero tolerance for unruly behavior aboard an aircraft, as such actions endanger the safety of all passengers, crew, and the aircraft itself. He expressed disappointment that individuals who educate their millions of followers on proper conduct would engage in such disruptive behavior. The NCAA is committed to ensuring that appropriate ramifications are dished out by relevant agencies once all facts are established, underscoring the serious consequences for those who compromise aviation safety.