United Nigeria Airlines has confirmed that it deboarded social media personalities Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, widely known as Mr Jollof, following a fight during boarding of their flight at Asaba International Airport on Monday, November 17, 2025.
The airline, in an official statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Chibuike Uloka, said the action was taken “to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members.”
“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 17 November 2025,” the statement read.
“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… They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation.”
The airline emphasised that it maintained a zero-tolerance policy for any conduct that threatens the well-being of passengers or crew.
“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,” Uloka said. “After all standard procedures were completed, the flight departed safely while the passengers involved in the altercation were still with the authorities.”
He added that the airline remained committed to providing a “safe, respectful, and secure travel experience across our network.”
LEADERSHIP reports that a viral video shared on Monday captured the dramatic moment VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof exchanged blows inside the aircraft as fellow passengers, including comedian Funny Bone, rushed to separate them.
The footage, posted on Facebook, showed the fight breaking out aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Asaba to Lagos.
The brawl followed a long-running feud between both men. Tensions flared after VeryDarkMan accused Mr Jollof’s wife of having affairs with internet fraudsters, an allegation that stirred controversy across social media.
Shortly after the scuffle, VeryDarkMan confirmed the incident in a Facebook video, boasting that he had “dealt” with the comedian.
“He bite me… man wey dey bite, he no shame. They beg am. I enter plane, I see am. I say, ‘You go slap me today o.’ I go near am, he punch me. He don spoil my tattoo now with him teeth wey he no brush,” he said, showing bite marks on his torso.
He later mocked his rival, saying: “I don chop Jollof father for inside plane.”
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has also indicated its intention to investigate the matter.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, wrote: “If you are kind enough to provide the name of the airline in whose aircraft this incident occurred, and the date, it would help investigations.”
