An Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, who was recently released from custody, has broken her silence following her widely publicised arrest. Emmanson, known on Instagram as soft_commy, took to her social media page on Wednesday to thank her supporters and give a brief update on her post-release condition. She revealed that although she has regained her freedom, she is still in pain as a result of how she was treated during the ordeal and will require medical attention before she can fully share her side of the story.
Her release comes after days of public attention on the incident, which reportedly began aboard an August 10 Uyo–Lagos flight. While the full details remain under investigation, the dispute between Emmanson and the airline escalated to the point where she was arrested and detained, sparking conversations online about passenger rights, airline policies, and handling of in-flight disputes.
In a twist, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) announced on Wednesday that a verified eyewitness – who sat beside Emmanson on the flight – had come forward to give an official statement. According to NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the witness submitted a boarding pass for verification and provided testimony that sheds new light on the events before departure, offering perspectives that include the behaviour of other passengers and the manner in which the situation was handled. The NCAA has since issued a Letter of Investigation to Ibom Air and plans to invite the airline and witnesses to a meeting as part of efforts to get to the root of the matter.
This development came on the same day Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, announced the withdrawal of criminal complaints against Emmanson and music icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, popularly known as KWAM 1, over separate incidents of unruly behaviour at Nigerian airports. Keyamo revealed that the decision followed 48 hours of consultations with aviation stakeholders and appeals from concerned Nigerians. In Emmanson’s case, the minister said the airline agreed to drop its complaint after she expressed remorse in her police statement in the presence of her lawyer, and the Airline Operators of Nigeria lifted the lifetime flying ban previously placed on her.
In her Instagram statement, Emmanson expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much for the prayers, love and support. I’ve been released from the prison, but I’m still in pains due to how I was treated. I just need some rest and medical treatment before I give out my own version of the event. Thank you so much, my lovely friends and supporters. I really appreciate y’all from the bottom of my heart. God bless you all. Thank you, my great God!!!”
While Nigerians await her full account, the NCAA and the Ministry of Aviation have assured that every culpable party will be held accountable, emphasising their commitment to protecting the rights of all aviation stakeholders. For now, Emmanson says her priority is recovery, rest, and healing before she speaks in detail about what happened on that flight.