A viral video has shown social media critic Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkman (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely called Mr Jollof, engaging in a physical fight aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight, prompting the airline to deboard them and hand them over to airport security.

The footage, shared on Monday by Facebook user Dr Paul Ezikel, showed the duo exchanging blows inside a commercial aircraft reportedly travelling from Asaba, Delta State, to Lagos. Fellow passengers, including comedian Funny Bone, were seen rushing to separate the two men.

VDM and Mr Jollof have a history of online confrontations, with tensions heightening after VDM alleged that Mr Jollof’s wife was involved with internet fraudsters, a claim that triggered heated exchanges across social media platforms.

Shortly after the incident, VDM confirmed the altercation in a Facebook post, claiming he had “dealt with” the comedian. In a follow-up video, he lifted his shirt to show bite marks on his torso.

“He bite me… man wey dey bite, he no shame. They beg am. I enter plane, I see am. I say, ‘You go slap me today o.’ I go near am, he punch me. He don spoil my tattoo now with him teeth wey he no brush,” he said, adding, “I don chop Jollof father for inside plane.”

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, reacting on X, requested details to assist the agency’s investigation. “If you are kind enough to provide the name of the airline in whose aircraft this incident occurred, and the date, it would help investigations,” he wrote.

United Nigeria Airlines later issued an official statement confirming that both passengers were involved in an altercation during boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport on the morning of November 17, 2025.

The airline’s Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, said the crew acted promptly in line with global aviation safety standards to de-escalate the situation.

“In full compliance with global aviation safety protocols, our crew responded immediately and professionally to de-escalate the situation. Both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation,” the statement read.

Uloka added that the airline maintains a zero-tolerance policy for behaviour that threatens passenger or crew safety. After standard procedures were completed, the flight departed without the two men, who remained in security custody for further questioning.

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