CHRAN Demands Thorough Investigation into Ibom Air Incident Involving Female Passenger

The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has called for an in-depth investigation into the incident involving Ibom Air officials and Ms. Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger on a flight from Uyo to Lagos.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday by CHRAN’s Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, and Secretary, Barr. Christopher Ekpo, the organization urged the Ministry of Aviation, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to lead the investigation.

The group specifically called for a review of CCTV footage from the aircraft and demanded that both Ibom Air and Ms. Emmanson be given the opportunity to present their accounts, with eyewitnesses onboard invited to testify.

CHRAN strongly condemned the lifetime flight ban imposed on Ms. Emmanson by Ibom Air and the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), describing the decision as hasty and unjustified. It urged a reversal of the ban pending the outcome of a full investigation.

The group expressed outrage over how Ms. Emmanson was allegedly mishandled, dehumanized, stripped naked, and videotaped — with the footage of the incident later circulated online, exposing her private parts and violating her right to privacy and dignity.

CHRAN also criticized what it described as “knee-jerk proceedings” that led to Ms. Emmanson’s remand in Kirikiri Prison shortly after the incident.

While acknowledging the airline’s right to remove a disruptive passenger for safety reasons, the group argued that the situation could have been handled more professionally. CHRAN maintained that if Ibom Air officials had acted with greater restraint, the passenger could have been peacefully escorted off the aircraft and detained within the airport premises without unnecessary drama.

“The situation escalated only when the airline’s officials prevented Ms. Emmanson from disembarking,” the group noted, referencing footage from the viral video.

CHRAN emphasized that although it does not support any unruly conduct by passengers, it holds airline staff to higher standards of professionalism, civility, and respect for human rights.