Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight, has broken her silence following her release from prison.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Emmanson confirmed she had regained her freedom but revealed she was still in pain from the ordeal. She expressed gratitude to those who stood by her and promised to share her own account of the incident after resting and receiving medical care.
“Thank you so much for all the prayers, love, and support. I’ve been released from prison, but I’m still in pains due to how I was treated,” she wrote. “I just need some rest and medical treatment before I give out my own version of the event. Thank you so much, my lovely friends and supporters. I really appreciate y’all from the bottom of my heart. God bless y’all.”
Her release from Kirikiri prison came after a magistrate court struck out the five-count charge of alleged assault and unruly behaviour filed against her by the police. The withdrawal of the case followed Ibom Air’s decision to drop its complaint.
Emmanson’s arrest stemmed from a confrontation with Ibom Air officials on a Sunday flight from Uyo to Lagos. She was forcefully removed from the aircraft during the incident, with her clothes torn, leaving her partially unclothed — an image that sparked widespread outrage.
On August 13, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that Ibom Air had lifted the lifetime flight ban previously imposed on her.