Violence, Violation, and the Erosion of Dignity in Our Skies

Violence, Violation, and the Erosion of Dignity in Our Skies

At Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, we are deeply concerned by the troubling pattern emerging from recent incidents in Nigeria’s aviation sector, incidents that not only compromise safety but also expose the persistent gender biases and systemic gaps that undermine women’s dignity, authority, and rights.

Two separate cases, different in details but bound by a disturbing common thread have brought these issues into sharp focus: the ValueJet incident involving prominent male passenger Wasiu Ayinde (Kwam 1) and female pilot Captain Oluranti Ogoyi, and the Ibom Air incident involving passenger Ms. Comfort Emmanson, popularly known as Comfort Bob.

Case One: ValueJet and the Undermining of Women in Authority

The ValueJet incident, as reported, involved an unruly male passenger allegedly disrespecting and even assaulting the female captain and crew. What should have been a straightforward enforcement of safety protocols devolved into a clear example of gendered power dynamics. While the pilots involved faced suspension, no reports emerged of arrest or charges against the passenger whose alleged behavior triggered the crisis.

This raises urgent questions: Was the captain’s authority undermined, in part, because she was a woman? Did the passenger believe he could act with impunity towards a female professional in a position of authority? In a male-dominated industry like aviation, such incidents reinforce harmful narratives that women’s leadership can be challenged and disrespected without consequence.

Case Two: Ibom Air and the Violation of a Woman’s Dignity

The Ibom Air case, though different in nature, reflects another systemic failure. On August 10, 2025, Ms. Emmanson allegedly refused to switch off her phone before takeoff, leading to a confrontation with crew members. Upon landing, the situation reportedly escalated into physical assaults on crew and airport security. She is now in police custody, facing legal proceedings.

BAOBAB is clear: violence against aviation staff is unacceptable and must be addressed lawfully. However, what followed was an entirely separate violation, a video of Ms. Emmanson in a state of partial nudity, visibly distressed and restrained, was leaked online. This was not an accident. It was a deliberate act of public shaming, a gross invasion of privacy, and a breach of her bodily autonomy.

The Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, has condemned the leak as “totally unacceptable” and promised sanctions against those responsible. Yet without decisive, transparent action, this risks becoming another case where the perpetrators of such a leak escape accountability.

A Pattern of Gendered Harm and Accountability Gaps

In both incidents, women lost.

In the ValueJet case, a woman in authority was allegedly disrespected and undermined, with no apparent legal consequence for the male passenger.

In the Ibom Air case, a woman accused of wrongdoing had her dignity stripped away through a privacy violation that turned a disciplinary matter into a spectacle. This selective outrage is telling. When other public figures, such as Fuji musician Kwam 1 have been involved in controversial incidents, the public and authorities alike have often responded with restraint, even indulgence. No viral humiliation campaigns. No aggressive public dragging. Yet, Ms. Emmanson has faced swift condemnation, online harassment, and was placed in the custody of the police. This unequal treatment is not incidental; it reflects deeply rooted misogyny and the ease with which society subjects women to moral policing.

The thread connecting these events is the absence of robust, gender-sensitive, rights-based crisis management in Nigerian aviation. Whether it’s a female captain or a female passenger, women are being subjected to treatment that erodes their dignity either through unchecked male entitlement or through mishandled security protocols.

BAOBAB’S Demands

Baobab for Women’s Human Rights calls for:

1. Full investigations into both incidents, with findings made public.

2. Prosecution of any individual responsible for leaking private images or videos of Ms. Emmanson.

3. Accountability for unruly passengers regardless of gender, status, or influence.

4. Mandatory gender-sensitive handling protocols in all Nigerian airlines, ensuring female passengers are managed by trained female officers in conflict situations.

5. De-escalation and dignity-preservation training for all aviation and security personnel.

Our Position is Clear

Safety in the skies must not come at the cost of dignity on the ground. Public humiliation is not justice, it is another form of violence. The absence of consequences for disrespect towards women in professional roles sends a dangerous message that male entitlement can override the rules designed to protect everyone.

If Nigeria’s aviation industry is to retain public trust, it must show that it values both safety and human rights. In our skies and on our soil, women’s dignity is non-negotiable, and violations, whether through disrespect, assault, or public shaming, must be met with swift, transparent, and meaningful accountability.

©Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Abuja.