Photo File : Comfort Emmason

Comfort Emmanson, the air passenger at the centre of a controversial Ibom Air incident, has spoken publicly for the first time, giving her own account of the events that led to her arrest, arraignment, and eventual discharge by a Lagos court.

In an 11-minute video shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, the real estate consultant described the experience as “traumatic” and thanked those who stood by her during the ordeal.

Recounting the August 10, 2025 flight from Uyo to Lagos, Emmanson alleged that trouble began when a flight attendant, identified as Juliana, insisted she switch off her phone instead of placing it in flight mode. She explained that one of her two phones had a faulty power button.

“I showed her the phone and told her the power button was bad. She said I could still switch it off through the settings. With the help of a fellow passenger, I eventually managed to switch off both phones,” she said.

According to her, the situation escalated after landing in Lagos when the same crew member allegedly prevented her from disembarking.

“When we landed, everyone was getting out of the aircraft. I went to pee. Coming out, I had to rush to carry my things and head out. But this lady stopped me. When I asked why, she didn’t answer, she only gave me a bad look. I brought out my phone to record and that was when she pushed me back inside, dragged my wig, tore my clothes, and broke my necklace. The pain was unbearable,” Emmanson recounted.

She claimed she was subsequently dragged out of the aircraft while partially unclothed, with videos of the incident recorded and circulated online.

“They tore my clothes, exposed my body, and people were recording. I felt humiliated. The trauma is too much—I cannot go out freely anymore because my body is everywhere online. Some people even turned it into stickers,” she lamented.

Emmanson insisted she never provoked the attendant, saying her reaction came only after being physically assaulted.

“God knows I would never poke an elderly woman old enough to be my mother. It was the pain she inflicted on me, dragging my wig and stripping me in public, that made me react,” she stated.

Following the confrontation, security officers intervened, leading to her arrest. She was later arraigned but discharged by the court.

In a follow-up statement on her Instagram story, Emmanson decried what she called “false narratives” surrounding the incident, including claims that her ordeal was politically motivated.

“There have been many false narratives, even from respected individuals. I have suffered constant victimisation and libel. All I want now is redemption and to regain whatever dignity I have left as a woman,” she wrote.

Emmanson acknowledged her reactions during the incident but maintained they were triggered by pain.

“I’ve flown with Ibom Air for years and never experienced this. Whatever happened after I was dragged down from the plane came from a place of pain. My swimsuit was clipped below my privates and torn. Imagine the pain as a woman,” she explained.

She added: “I apologise for my behaviour. I am not crazy or wayward. I have never been in such a situation, and I do not wish it on my enemy.”