Keyamo Condemns Release of Indecent Video of Unruly Passenger, Orders Sanctions

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the public release of a video showing the indecent exposure of a passenger involved in a disruptive incident on an Ibom Airline flight. Keyamo described the release of the footage as “totally unacceptable” and ordered sanctions against the airline staff responsible for sharing the content.

The passenger, identified as Miss Comfort Emmanson (also known as Comfort Bob), allegedly assaulted both flight crew and ground staff on Ibom Airline Flight Q153, which was traveling from Uyo to Lagos on August 10, 2025. The incident began when she refused to turn off her phone during takeoff, violating International Civil Aviation Regulations.

In a statement released on his official X account on Monday, Keyamo emphasized that while filming the passenger’s disruptive behavior was necessary for legal proceedings, the public exposure of her indecent acts was inappropriate. “Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her,” Keyamo said. “That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood.”

Keyamo directed that the staff member who released the indecent footage should be identified and sanctioned accordingly. “I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned,” he stated.

Additionally, Keyamo ordered airlines to implement better training programs for their staff, focusing on public relations and handling volatile situations. He also announced that a joint security meeting with relevant agencies would be held next week to improve coordination on aviation security.

The incident, which occurred around 2:54 p.m. on the Ibom Airline flight, escalated when the passenger refused to comply with the flight crew’s instructions to switch off her phone during takeoff. As a result, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) imposed an indefinite flight ban on Miss Emmanson, barring her from both domestic and international flights.

Keyamo revealed that he had been in communication with key authorities, including the Commissioner of Police of the Airport Police Command, the Director-General of the NCAA, the Managing Director of FAAN, and the Chief Operating Officer of Ibom Air, to address the situation.

Miss Emmanson was arraigned on Monday at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, where she was remanded at Kirikiri Prison after failing to provide sureties.

Keyamo also urged passengers to file complaints through the NCAA’s Consumer Protection Directorate rather than resorting to disruptive behavior. “We will continue to apply equal sanctions available to us in aviation on any such erring passengers, including lengthy flight bans and reporting the matters to other law enforcement agencies for further action,” the statement concluded.