By Ameh Gabriel
Abuja, August 13, 2025 – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over viral videos and reports alleging the inhuman and degrading treatment of a female passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson, during an incident involving an Ibom Air flight and subsequent actions by security personnel.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (OFR, SAN), the Commission described the acts captured on video as a gross violation of human dignity, warning that such conduct has no place in a civilized society.
“The prohibition of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment is an absolute and non-derogable right that cannot be suspended under any circumstances,” the NHRC stressed, citing protections under the Nigerian Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Commission recalled that Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to dignity and expressly forbids torture or inhuman treatment. Similarly, the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, criminalizes acts such as beatings, psychological abuse, public shaming, and confinement outside due process.
According to the NHRC, disturbing aspects of the incident include the disproportionate physical force used to restrain and remove Ms. Emmanson from the aircraft, the stripping and exposure of her private body parts, and the public circulation of the compromising videos all of which amount to severe violations of her dignity and privacy.
“These actions are indefensible and cannot be justified by any alleged misconduct of the passenger,” the statement read. “Under our laws and international obligations, there is no justification for torture especially by law enforcement or security agencies.”
The NHRC acknowledged recent government decisions granting amnesty in the Ibom Air case and another incident involving ValueJet Airline and music icon Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, but insisted that all human rights issues arising from both cases must be addressed.
The statement also emphasized that corporate bodies, including airlines, have a responsibility to respect human rights in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and Nigeria’s National Action Plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
“Private companies like Ibom Air and ValueJet are obligated to ensure their operations, staff, and contracted security personnel do not cause or contribute to human rights abuses,” the Commission stated, calling for mandatory human rights and de-escalation training for all airline and airport personnel.
The NHRC urged aviation authorities to immediately review protocols for managing unruly passengers to ensure compliance with human rights standards including the rights to life, dignity, fair hearing, freedom of movement, and protection from torture or degrading treatment. It also called for strict sanctions against any airline or agency found culpable.
Furthermore, the Commission urged prosecutorial and investigative bodies to ensure swift prosecution of individuals implicated in the incident, pledging full support to victims on all sides in line with its mandate under the NHRC Act of 2010 and the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
To this end, the NHRC announced it had issued an advisory to all authorities and stakeholders in the aviation sector on the “Right to Dignity and Protection Against Torture, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment in Aviation Operations in Nigeria.”
Dr. Ojukwu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to monitoring the case closely to ensure justice for Ms. Emmanson, other passengers, airline staff, and crew members, while holding all responsible parties accountable.
