LAGOS, Nigeria — What began as a simmering online feud between two Nigerian entertainers erupted into a physical confrontation aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight last week, startling passengers and prompting an investigation by aviation authorities.
Martins Vincent Otse, the outspoken social media personality better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly called Mr Jollof, exchanged blows on a flight from Asaba to Lagos on Nov. 17, according to video clips that quickly spread across social platforms.
The clash unfolded before takeoff, witnesses said, when Mr Jollof confronted VDM. Passengers reported that Mr Jollof threw the first punch, setting off a scuffle that left travelers pleading for calm. “We were scared because anything can happen inside a plane,” said one passenger seated nearby. Another, captured on video, asked, “Who started it?” before hearing the reply: “It was Mr Jollof.”
The fight was the culmination of weeks of escalating hostilities online. VDM had accused Mr Jollof’s wife of inappropriate associations, sparking a series of insults and challenges between the two men. VDM later acknowledged that he provoked the confrontation, telling Mr Jollof, “Today you go slap me oo,” daring him to act on his threats.
Airline staff removed both men from the aircraft before departure, passengers said. VDM later confirmed the incident in a social media post, alleging that Mr Jollof bit him during the altercation.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said it has requested details of the incident, including the airline and flight information, to aid its inquiry. “We take safety very seriously, and fighting inside an aircraft is unacceptable,” said Michael Achimugu, a spokesperson for the agency.
The spectacle drew swift condemnation from fellow entertainers. Comedian Funny Bone, who was also on the flight, attempted to separate the men, according to witnesses. Others criticized the brawl online, saying it reflected poorly on public figures whose influence extends far beyond the stage.
For many Nigerians, the episode underscored the uneasy intersection of celebrity culture and public safety. What began as a digital feud became a very real disruption, leaving passengers shaken and regulators scrambling to reassert order in the skies. For many Nigerians, the episode underscored the uneasy intersection of celebrity culture and public safety. What began as a digital feud became a very real disruption, leaving passengers shaken and regulators scrambling to reassert order in the skies.
