The simmering online rivalry between two of Nigeria’s most contentious social media figures exploded at 30,000 feet, culminating in a public apology from one of them after a physical altercation disrupted a commercial flight.
Martins Otse, the controversial commentator known online as VeryDarkMan, has publicly expressed regret for his role in a mid-air brawl with comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, popularly called Mr Jollof. The incident, which occurred on a United Nigeria Airlines flight from Asaba to Lagos on Monday, forced a delay and was captured in viral videos showing passengers struggling to separate the two men.
In a video statement posted to his Instagram page on Tuesday, a contrite Otse took “full responsibility” for the incident, describing his actions as “irresponsibility.”
“I would really like to apologise for what happened yesterday on the United Nigerian Airlines. What happened yesterday was not supposed to happen, and I will take full responsibility for it,” VeryDarkMan stated.
He extended his apology specifically to fellow passengers, acknowledging the potential severity of the disruption he caused. “A lot of people on that flight had important things to do, but because of that little irresponsibility from my end, their flight was delayed. Some people might have had medical emergencies, and some had business contracts to sign. I don’t know what that little delay would have cost them, and I really want to apologise,” he added.
Reflecting on the event, he distanced himself from those who treated the incident as entertainment, stating, “Looking back at what happened yesterday, I really didn’t like that part. Even though some people saw everything as a cruise on social media, I acted irresponsibly.”
While offering the apology, VeryDarkMan’s assurance against a repeat of such behaviour was notably conditional. He stopped short of guaranteeing it would not happen again, instead promising it would not occur in specific public settings.
“I cannot guarantee that it will not happen again. I can only guarantee that it will not happen on the plane, on the bus or in a public place that will stop people from going to their destination,” he said. “But I am really, really sorry for yesterday.”
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has previously stated that unruly behaviour aboard aircraft is a serious offence, potentially attracting severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. Industry observers are now watching to see if official action will be taken against the individuals involved.
