By Ali Adoyi
Nigerians had no idea that KWAM 1 would soon be followed by KWAM 2 — the public shaming of a young woman who merely boarded a flight operated by the Akwa Ibom State government’s airline, Ibom Air.
What began as a simple misunderstanding quickly escalated, and the rest, as they say, is history. KWAM 2 became the new spectacle. Online, men scrambled to find the video — not to understand what happened, but to ogle the woman’s breasts as she was dragged off the plane. Some even watched it in slow motion for better “viewing.” Now, one of Google’s top searches is “Akwa Ibom Air Saga Video.”
In the fixation on her body, many have missed the point. Sympathy has been lost. What remains is mockery and imagination running wild.
The Honourable Minister, Festus Keyamo, has taken action. But questions still hang in the air, unanswered.
What transpired aboard that Ibom Air flight — and what followed — was unjust. You can take that to the market or anywhere else.
All we heard from the viral clip was the air hostess shouting, “She is slapping me,” as she blocked the lady from leaving the plane. But the flight was already empty. Other passengers had disembarked. It was just her and the crew. So what happened before the camera started rolling? No one has filled in those blanks. Nigerians deserve the full story before condemning the young woman.
Let’s be honest — her behavior was excessive. It raises questions. But let’s also ask: what provoked such rage? It’s rare for someone to become that furious without significant provocation. Who snatched off her wig? Let’s not pretend that some flight attendants don’t carry an air of arrogance. Yes, she overreacted — but what was she reacting to?
Another point of confusion: the same woman who was being stopped from leaving was later seen being dragged off the aircraft. Something doesn’t add up.
Even more troubling is that she was left alone with airport and airline officials — no passengers around, no witnesses. Who will speak for her? Who can back her version of events?
Evidence or Public Shaming?
One critical detail: the recording started from the very beginning. This suggests that the intent from the crew may not have been just to manage the situation — but to escalate it and publicly embarrass her. In the end, they succeeded. Their intentions became even clearer when a nude video of her began circulating just hours after the incident.
The Dragging and the Stripping
There’s no doubt: her right to dignity and privacy was violated. Regardless of what she was wearing, she did not board that plane naked. Yet, she was dragged out of it naked. An airline that should exemplify professionalism and discretion instead stretched the situation to its breaking point. They didn’t just remove her by force — they stripped her and broadcast her body to the world, uncensored.
It was crude. It was heartless. And it could have been handled differently. If the airline felt compelled to release footage, the least they could have done was blur the nudity to preserve her dignity. This kind of treatment would not fly in any sane society. And since there were no passengers visible in the video, the airline cannot shift blame for the leak.
Withdrawing charges against her is not enough. Ibom Air must be held accountable for violating her rights. Hopefully, her legal team will see this through.
A Word on Temperament
That said, in the spirit of fairness, Miss Comfort — beyond her beauty — needs to work on her temperament. Anger is dangerous. Those who allow it to control them often find themselves in deep trouble. It’s vital to master our weaknesses, especially when dealing with people in authority.
She should also understand a bitter truth in our society: without a godfather, one’s rights are often at the mercy of public opinion and power.
KWAM 1 vs. KWAM 2: A Double Standard
Let’s talk about the irony:
• KWAM 1 was compensated after stopping a flight from taking off.
• KWAM 2 was jailed for being blocked from getting off a plane.
• KWAM 1 endangered the lives of many.
• KWAM 2 confronted only an air hostess.
So we ask again — who is fooling who?