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The Civil Society Organisation, The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development, has faulted how Comfort Emmanson was treated by staff of Ibom Air and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Monday by Omoniyi Akingunola, its Head of Office, the organisation also offered to provide free legal services to Emmanson, describing her treatment as “unfair, unjust, and unacceptable”.
Videos circulating on social media showed an enraged Emmanson attacking flight attendants on an Ibom Air flight inbound to Lagos from Uyo and confronting airport security officials.
Ibom Air has earlier stated that the incident began shortly before take-off from Uyo when the passenger refused to comply with standard aviation safety procedures requiring her to switch off her mobile phone.
Akingunola also faulted the police for rushing to court without conducting adequate fact-finding after the incident.
Read also: Ibom Air controversy sparks outrage as Nigerians slam selective justice
He said publicly available footage of the incident is incomplete, noting that the altercation began onboard the aircraft.
The NEFGAD’s chief insisted that Ibom Air must release the in-flight video footage to clarify whether Emmanson’s actions were provoked.
“It is wrong to judge the incident based solely on the clip recorded outside the aircraft. It appears something happened inside the plane, and the lady reacted after she was prevented from disembarking, an apparent orchestrated provocation to ensure she was penalised for whatever had transpired in-flight,” the statement reads.
He questioned how anyone forcibly dragged down a plane could be expected to behave civilly and why a passenger ready to disembark suddenly refused to leave moments later.
Akingunola suggested the situation was deliberately escalated to fit a certain narrative, adding that cabin crew should not act as law enforcement officers, especially when their actions resulted in physical assault.
