November 17, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has condemned a mid-air physical altercation involving social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely known as Mr Jollof, aboard an Asaba–Lagos flight on Monday, promising to impose appropriate sanctions on both men.
THEWILL had earlier reported the dramatic scene at Asaba International Airport when United Nigeria Airlines deboarded VDM and Mr Jollof following the confrontation during boarding of Flight UN0523.
In a statement, the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, confirmed that the clash occurred shortly before takeoff, prompting immediate intervention by crew members who acted “professionally and in full compliance with global aviation safety protocols.”
Both VDM and Mr Jollof were removed from the aircraft to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew, and were handed over to airport security authorities for further investigation.
In a separate statement on X, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour” that endangered passengers, crew, and the aircraft.
“There is zero tolerance for unruly conduct on an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full weight of the law,” the spokesperson said, expressing disappointment that two public figures with large followings were involved in such conduct despite often preaching responsibility to their audiences.
The Authority noted that the airline is expected to submit a formal report detailing the incident, after which legal and administrative actions will be initiated.
Preliminary accounts from eyewitnesses suggest that the scuffle was sparked by an ongoing online feud between VDM and Mr Jollof, which escalated once both men were on the same flight.
Passengers and crew reportedly intervened to restore order before the aircraft proceeded to Lagos.
VDM later posted a video on Facebook claiming he confronted Mr Jollof during the altercation, saying: “I don chop Jollof father for inside plane. He bit me—man wey dey bite.”
The NCAA spokesperson added that the Authority is awaiting the full incident report from the airline and assured the public that a comprehensive statement would follow once all facts are verified.
The regulator reiterated its commitment to educating travellers on the consequences of unruly behaviour and warned that any actions threatening aviation safety would not be tolerated.
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