Two of Nigeria’s most prominent social media personalities, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, found themselves in the custody of airport security on Monday following a physical confrontation aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight.
The incident, which unfolded during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport, Delta State, forced the airline to deboard the feuding influencers, an action it said was necessary to ensure the safety of other passengers.
A video capturing snippets of the altercation has circulated widely across social media platforms, showing the two men engaged in a heated exchange and physical tussle while seated on the aircraft, much to the alarm of fellow travellers.
In an official statement released hours after the event, the airline’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chibuike Uloka, confirmed the disturbance and detailed the carrier’s response.
“United Nigeria Airlines confirms that an altercation occurred between two passengers, identified as Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan) and Freedom Okpetoritse Atsepoyi (Mr Jollof), during the boarding of Flight UN0523 at Asaba International Airport on the morning of November 17, 2025,” the statement read.
Uloka emphasised that the crew acted swiftly to manage 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.”
He further confirmed that the influencers were “subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation.”
Reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety, the airline’s statement noted, “United Nigeria Airlines places the highest priority on safety and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that threatens the security or well-being of passengers or crew.”
The airline assured the public that after standard security procedures were completed, the affected flight was able to depart safely for its destination, while VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof remained with the authorities.
The nature of the dispute that sparked the airborne fracas remains unclear. Aviation security experts have commended the airline’s decisive action, noting that any disturbance onboard an aircraft is treated with utmost seriousness due to potential safety risks.
The incident has sparked a frenzy of reactions online, with the hashtags #VDMvsMrJollof and #UnitedNigeria trending as users dissected the viral video and debated the conduct of the two celebrities.
