By Abdul Lauya
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the circulation of a viral video showing a female passenger’s breast being exposed during an altercation aboard an Ibom Air flight.
He described the action as a “degrading” violation of passenger privacy that must not go unpunished.
The passenger, identified as Ms Comfort Emmanson, was involved in a heated exchange with airline or airport staff before the confrontation spiralled into an indecent exposure incident.
The footage, instead of being handled as confidential evidence, found its way to social media, drawing outrage and revulsion in equal measure.
“This is completely unacceptable. It is an invasion of privacy and a stain on the dignity of womanhood,” Keyamo declared, adding that the release of such material was not only unethical but damaging to the public’s trust in the aviation system.
The Minister said he had directed sanctions against any airline staff responsible for the leak and ordered a joint security meeting to review protocols for handling incidents onboard.
“Evidence for prosecution must be treated with the utmost discretion,” he stressed.
Ibom Air, however, has denied that any of its staff leaked the clip, suggesting that the recording may have been made and shared by other individuals present at the time. The airline pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
While Emmanson herself faces legal and regulatory action, including an indefinite flying ban by the NCAA and remand in Kirikiri Prison, Keyamo’s intervention underscores a wider problem: the casual erosion of privacy in the age of instant sharing.
The outrage over the incident reflects a growing recognition that public humiliation, once broadcast, cannot be undone.
In a digital culture that rewards viral scandal over restraint, Keyamo’s stance signals that officialdom is prepared to draw a red line, but whether enforcement will deter future breaches remains to be seen.
