United Nigeria Airlines has officially acknowledged and accepted the public apologies of social media influencers Martins Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMan) and Freedom Atsepoyi (Mr Jollof) following their physical confrontation aboard one of its flights earlier this week.
The incident occurred on Monday during boarding at Asaba International Airport, sparking renewed debate about passenger conduct and aviation safety in Nigeria’s air travel sector.
In a statement released on Thursday, the airline confirmed it had taken note of the apologies issued by both men via their social media platforms.
“United Nigeria Airlines acknowledges and accepts the public apologies issued by VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof following the onboard altercation that occurred during the boarding of Flight UN0523 from Asaba International Airport to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on 17 November 2025,” the company said.
The airline further highlighted the influencers’ pledges to avoid any behaviour that could compromise safety or decorum in the future.
“We trust that this undertaking will be honoured in the interest of maintaining a safe, respectful, and orderly travel environment for all passengers,” the statement added.
Videos of the clash, widely circulated online, showed the two men exchanging blows and grappling, causing panic among passengers before crew members intervened. Both individuals were subsequently removed from the aircraft and handed over to security personnel at Asaba Airport.
Reports suggest the altercation stemmed from a long-standing online feud dating back to 2024, during which VeryDarkMan had threatened to confront Mr Jollof in person.
In a video apology posted on Instagram, VeryDarkMan appeared with bandages on his head and arm, admitting responsibility and expressing regret for inconveniencing passengers.
“What happened yesterday was not supposed to happen, and I will take full responsibility for it,” he said, extending apologies to fellow travellers, the pilot, flight attendants, and “all the mothers, all the daddies, all the uncles, all the younger ones” on board.
Mr Jollof also issued a statement of apology, clarifying that he is “not a violent person” and had acted in self-defense during the scuffle.
“I want to use this medium to sincerely apologise to the NCAA, United Nigeria Airlines, and the passengers. I was only defending myself… I am very sorry if I delayed your appointment. I’m very sorry. Pardon me,” he said, assuring that such behaviour “will never happen again.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) condemned the incident, warning that unruly passenger behaviour could result in criminal prosecution and possible jail terms.
NCAA’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, described the confrontation as a “serious infraction” that endangered lives, stressing that aviation regulations strictly prohibit such conduct.
