The Nigeria Police Force is set to arraign two South African returnees for smoking and drinking while on board an Air Peace flight to Lagos.
The returnees identified as Enaruna Aghama (51) and Tony Ajayi (41) were alleged to have triggered the aircraft’s alarm after lighting cigarettes while on board.
As contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Lagos Airport Police Command’s spokesperson, Mohammed Adeola, the unruly conduct of the duo had left other passengers in panic.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that at about 1944hrs on 9th July, 2026, while aboard an Air Peace flight from South Africa to Lagos, the suspects lit and smoked cigarettes inside the aircraft, an action which activated the aircraft’s smoke detection and emergency alarm system, causing panic and anxiety among passengers and cabin crew.” Mohammed wrote.
Upon arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, the suspects were reportedly handed over to the International Airport Police Division by Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel for further investigation.
Further inquiries disclosed that the suspects were also in possession of an alcoholic beverage and became uncooperative and verbally aggressive when cabin crew members attempted to de-escalate the situation and enforce established safety regulations.
This, according to the statement, further disrupted the orderly conduct of the flight.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Ogunbode Olufunke, Mnips, condemned the conduct of the suspects, describing any act capable of compromising aviation safety or disrupting the orderly operation of an aircraft as unacceptable.
She reiterated that the Airport Police Command remains committed to the strict enforcement of aviation security laws and the protection of the lives of passengers, crew members, and all airport users, in line with the provisions of the relevant aviation regulations and the FAAN By-Laws.
Olufunke further urged members of the travelling public to comply with all lawful directives issued by airline operators and aviation personnel, emphasizing that maintaining discipline and orderly conduct aboard aircraft is a shared responsibility essential to safe air travel.
The suspects are to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of investigation.