By Chioma Obinagwam
In a shocking escalation of their long-simmering online feud, social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, transformed a routine domestic flight into a scene straight out of a low-budget action flick.
Confiance News gathered that the brawl, which unfolded aboard United Nigeria Airlines Flight UN0523 from Asaba International Airport to Lagos, forced the aircraft to halt boarding, deboard the feuding pair, and hand them over to security—leaving dozens of passengers stunned and the aviation world reeling.
Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of raw tension boiling over in the confined space of the cabin. According to a viral video circulating online, VDM, seated in row 7, spotted Mr Jollof in row 4 and approached him during boarding. “I enter plane, I see am. Na im I tell am say today you go slap me oo,” VDM later recounted in a boastful Instagram video, lifting his shirt to reveal bite marks on his chest. What began as a provocative reminder of Mr Jollof’s earlier online threat to slap VDM devolved into punches, slaps, and even alleged biting, with fellow passengers—including comedian Funny Bone—rushing to intervene. “Even Funny Bone was trying to separate them,” one eyewitness shared on TikTok. “We no travel with them. Them dey Asaba there they settle themselves.”
The roots of this mid-air mayhem trace back to May 2024, when VDM accused Mr Jollof of shilling for the now-defunct Blord app amid customer payout disputes. Mr Jollof fired back with defamation threats and a half-billion-naira lawsuit, while VDM vowed to “launch attack on Jollof anywhere they meet.” Yesterday’s clash—fueled by VDM dragging Mr Jollof’s wife into the fray with unsubstantiated claims—proved he meant it. United Nigeria Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing their crew’s “professional” response in line with global safety protocols. “We do not tolerate any form of violence or misconduct that threatens the security of our passengers and crew members,” spokesperson Chibuike Uloka said. The flight departed without the duo, who were detained briefly by Asaba airport police before release.
### X Erupts: From Laughter to Calls for Bans
The internet, never one to miss a spectacle, lit up with reactions faster than a plane’s emergency slide deployment. On X (formerly Twitter), #VDMvsMrJollof trended nationwide, spawning memes, hot takes, and a chorus of condemnation. “Two overgrown shameless adults. As long as they are not related to me, may the most shameless win the fight,” quipped user @amagracie, capturing the mix of schadenfreude and disgust.
Many users decried the duo’s recklessness, highlighting the peril to innocents aboard. “Seeing VDM and Mr Jollof fight on a plane risking the life of every passenger onboard was just hard to watch,” wrote @1stKingzWeb3. “It’s crazy how much I think VDM has fallen.” @nacamoto_556 demanded action: “Aviation Authorities suppose place ban on both parties.” Echoing aviation safety concerns, @Habibi_Ameer added, “Honestly, the VDM and Mr Jollof fight just shows how far online tension can spill into real life. No matter the disagreement, fighting on a plane is wild. As grown men and public figures, we have to do better. Influence comes with responsibility.”
Supporters were scarcer but vocal. “No be to do cho cho cho online, can you do it physically?! support Vdma,” cheered @lucforce_lighting_electric. Meanwhile, @UtdMane lamented the bystander culture: “The worst thing… was that everyone in the plane was busy recording the fight instead of separating [it]… what if they both caused a plane crash?” Comedian @mcplutocomedian weighed in with gallows humor: “There are better and more logical ways to resolve issues than resorting to a fight on a plane… Teeth were involved. Victim unknown. 😄😁🤔”
Rapper Nexto even dropped freestyle bars on the beef, turning the chaos into impromptu content. But the sentiment skewed heavily toward outrage, with users like @dele003 clarifying: “VDM was the first person to make a physical threat… Both of them embarrassed themselves by turning a simple online argument into a physical fight. Fighting inside an airplane where people expect peace is completely senseless.”
Aviation Experts and NCAA: Zero Tolerance, Swift Justice
Aviation authorities wasted no time in branding the incident a grave breach of protocol. Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), issued a scathing rebuke on X: “There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law.” He underscored the duo’s hypocrisy as influencers: “It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly behaviour.”
Under NCAA regulations, physical assault or threats against non-crew members aboard an aircraft carry severe penalties: civil fines ranging from minimum to maximum amounts, potential criminal referral, and blacklisting from future flights. “The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk,” Achimugu stated, noting the agency’s heavy investment in passenger education campaigns. The NCAA is awaiting a formal report from United Nigeria Airlines before forwarding the case to its legal department, but Achimugu assured: “Sanctions follow due process and cannot be imposed instantly… but they will come.”
Life coach Olusola Babatunde offered a sharper personal critique, slamming VDM on X: “VDM messed up tho. You confronted a man on a plane over online dramas? Least he could have done after seeing Mr Jollof on the same plane was ignore him.” Eyewitnesses and netizens alike echoed this, with one TikToker noting, “VDM was wrong. Mr Jollof was wrong because I know their story… So what do I say in this?”
Delta State aide Ossai Ovie Success, Mr Jollof’s boss as Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Oborevwori, called for VDM’s arrest, while ex-Nollywood associate Xxssive (Nkechi Blessing’s former partner) crowed: “VDM had ‘wasted muscles’ and was ‘big for nothing’… Mr Jollof faded the activist on his lips.” Brand influencer @PrinceAbbbey summed up the broader fallout: “The altercation… is a disgrace to both of them. For men who claim to be role models, throwing punches in public isn’t bravery—it’s shameful.”
As investigations unfold, this airborne affray serves as a stark reminder: in the skies, beefs belong on the ground. With potential bans looming, VDM and Mr Jollof may soon find their next clash grounded—permanently. The NCAA’s message is clear: fly responsibly, or don’t fly at all.
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