'I am still in pain', Ibom Air passenger Emmanson speaks after release

For the first time since her ordeal, the Ibom Air passenger who was recently released from custody, Comfort Emmanson, has taken to social media to thank Nigerians, describing her post-release condition.

In a statement posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, Emmanson (#soft_commy), said she is still “in pain due to how I was treated” and requires medical attention before she can share her full account of the incident.

She also maintained that she needed some rest and medical treatment before she could give out her side of the story.

The statement comes after a widely publicised dispute between Emmanson and the airline, which reportedly led to her arrest and detention.

While details of the original altercation remain a subject of debate, the passenger’s latest post focuses on the physical and emotional toll of her time in custody.

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The full statement from her Instagram page reads, “Thank you so much for the prayers, love and support. I’ve been released from prison, but I’m still in pain due to how I was treated.

“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 you all. Thank you, my great God!!!”

The airline has not yet issued a public response to Emmanson’s latest post, but earlier statements from Ibom Air confirmed a customer service incident had taken place and was being handled internally.

The airline’s management has previously maintained that the well-being of all passengers and staff is a top priority.

Emmanson’s post has garnered thousands of likes and comments, with supporters offering words of encouragement and demanding an official investigation into her treatment while in custody. The public now awaits her full account of the events that led to the dispute and her subsequent arrest.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.