"Since I Was Released, I Can't Go Outside Again Because My Body is Now All Over The Internet, Who Will Marry Me Now?” - Ibom Air Passenger, Comfort Emmanson, Cries Out
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that a female passenger at the centre of the viral Ibom Air controversy, Comfort Emmanson, has cried out in pain and frustration, lamenting the devastating impact of the scandal on her personal life, career, and dignity, after a viral video allegedly exposing her body circulated widely on the internet.
OTN News further reports that Emmanson, in an emotional video shared online, said that her life has not been the same since her release from detention, as the circulation of videos exposing her body has left her humiliated and fearful of stepping out in public.
According to her, “Since I Was Released, I Cannot Go Outside Again Because My Body Is Now Outside. My Breast Is Now All Over The Internet. I Can’t Even Go For Job Interview Again Because My Body Is Now Outside.I am Not Even The Social Media Type. Who Will Now Marry Me?”.
Expressing gratitude to those who supported her during her ordeal, she said, “I want to appreciate everyone who fought for me when I was in prison. The love and support I saw when I came out, I never expected it. For a commoner like me, you guys stood by me. God Almighty will bless you."
Recounting the incident that sparked the crisis, Emmanson explained that it began on August 10 after boarding an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. According to her, a flight attendant, identified as Juliana, confronted her about turning off her phone.
She claimed one of her phones had a faulty power button, and while the attendant refused to help, a fellow passenger eventually assisted her in switching it off. However, she alleged that upon landing in Lagos, the same attendant prevented her from disembarking, glaring at her and ignoring her pleas.
Fearing hostility, Emmanson began recording the encounter. She alleged that the move provoked the attendant, who dragged her by the hairpiece, tore her clothes, pulled off her gold chain, and damaged her phone.
“She dragged my frontal, my gold chain, and in the process, my phone fell and broke. The pain of having my frontal yanked off was unbearable. That was when I poked her out of anger,” she said.
The real estate consultant broke down as she recalled being forcibly removed from the aircraft by multiple staff while passengers recorded the scene. She alleged her torn clothes left her exposed, making her vulnerable to groping and ridicule.
“They videoed me with my body out there. Some people have even turned it into stickers. I can’t even go out again because people already know me. Imagine me trying to sell a house, and clients have seen that video. How do I face them?” she said tearfully.
She disclosed that she has been undergoing treatment since the incident and delayed speaking publicly until she was emotionally strong enough.
“I’m not a troubled person, I’m not a nuisance. People who know me in real life know the kind of person I am. I just never expected that offering to switch off my phone would escalate like this,” she said.
OTN News recalls that her ordeal began when Ibom Air accused her of refusing to switch off her phone, a claim that led to her forcible removal from the flight, a lifetime ban from the airline, and subsequent arraignment on five charges. She was briefly remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre before regaining her freedom.
However, on Wednesday, an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Ogba discharged her after the police formally withdrew the charges, ending the legal battle.
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