Crime
JUST IN: NCAA Clarifies Role in Passenger Incidents, Says Ibom Air Filed Charges Against Comfort Emmanson
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified its involvement in two recent incidents involving unruly passengers, stating that it was not the regulatory body but Ibom Air that initiated legal action against passenger Ms. Comfort Emmanson.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mike Achimugu, explained that the authority steps in only when necessary and within the limits of its mandate.
Addressing the case of Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate or Kwam 1, Achimugu noted that the airline involved in that incident chose not to pursue legal action. As a result, he said, the NCAA petitioned relevant authorities to prosecute the passenger and issued an advisory to the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) recommending a ban.
“In K1’s case, the airline did not activate its right to take the passenger to court. Therefore, NCAA stepped in and petitioned for prosecution, while advising the AON to ban the individual from flying,” Achimugu said.
However, in the more recent incident involving Emmanson, who allegedly assaulted an Ibom Air staff member during a flight, the airline immediately initiated legal proceedings.
“Perhaps because their staff was assaulted, Ibom Air acted swiftly and took the case to court themselves. NCAA has no role in that case,” he clarified.
Achimugu said both incidents point to rising tensions within the aviation environment, stating, “The system is being tested, and there’s enough blame to go around—FAAN, AVSEC, cabin crew, and passengers alike.”
He reiterated the global stance against unruly behavior aboard aircraft and stressed the importance of passengers complying with cabin crew instructions for safety reasons.
Achimugu also revealed that during the confrontation involving Emmanson, other passengers reportedly seized and turned off her phone.
Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime no-fly ban on Emmanson across all member airlines. The ban was announced on Monday in a statement issued by AON spokesperson, Obiora Okonkwo, who warned that similar acts of misconduct would attract the same penalty.
The incident occurred aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Lagos.
The Lagos State Police Command, Gender Unit, has arrested a 60-year-old man, Ajayi Femi, for allegedly raping a 24-year-old lady.
The command disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The spokesperson for the command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly spiked the survivor’s drink, rendering her unconscious, before having unlawful sexual intercourse with her.
The incident took place on August 22, 2025, and was reported by the victim’s sister to the police at the Meiran Police Station before being transferred to the Gender Unit of the command for further investigation.
“Medical examinations conducted by the Gender Unit corroborated the survivor’s account, while the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation,” the statement read.
The command revealed that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation and has since been remanded in prison custody until the next adjourned date.
It added, “The command remains committed to ensuring justice for survivors of sexual offences.”
This case comes weeks after operatives of the command arrested a 45-year-old man in Ikotun for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.
The incident, which attracted widespread outrage, reignited calls from rights activists for stiffer penalties against sex offenders.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested seven individuals suspected of cult-related activities in Ikot Osura, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, the suspects—allegedly members of the banned “Ku Klux Klan” confraternity—were apprehended on August 28, 2025.
The arrest followed a report by a student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, who was attacked on August 25 after renouncing his membership in the group. The victim was left unconscious, and his phone and ₦41,000 were stolen during the assault.
Acting on the report, police operatives launched a targeted operation that led to the arrest of the suspects: Douglas Ambe Esikhene, Stephen Asukwo Effiong, Saviour Dany Akpan, Emmanuel Friday Umoh, Augustine Uduak Okon, Mary Ating Asukwo, and Itohowo Christopher Uko.
A search of their hideout led to the recovery of a locally made short gun, seven live cartridges, a fresh human skull, a bottle containing a black substance suspected to be ritual oil, and another bottle believed to contain Guyanese oil used for rituals.
DSP John confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend more members of the group and recover additional evidence.
A suspect has been arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command for the alleged beheading of a middle-aged man, Dick Nnachi, in Oso-Edda, Edda Local Government Area.
DSP Joshua Ukandu, the police spokesperson, confirmed the arrest and linked the attack to a longstanding land dispute between Oso-Edda and the neighboring Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area, which has lasted over a decade.
Authorities have deployed officers to the area, and while normalcy has returned, investigations continue.
Separately, on January 18, a similar tragedy occurred in Amai community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, where a 70-year-old man, Mr. Aghanti, and his 50-year-old daughter, Mrs. Atagoshi, were reportedly beheaded over a land dispute.
The victims were allegedly lured into the bush by the suspect under the pretense of discussing the land issue, and their headless bodies were later found.
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