Nigeria?s leading airline, Air Peace, has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it described as the ?unruly conduct? of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, after he reportedly disrupted airport operations at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1 (Zulu Hall) on the morning of Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 6:10am when Oshiomhole arrived at the terminal for Flight to Abuja, scheduled to depart at 6:30 am. According to Air Peace, the boarding process had already closed in line with its strict on-time departure policy, and the flight departed as scheduled.

The airline alleged that upon being informed he had missed the flight, the senator became physically aggressive, assaulted airline staff, and blocked the terminal entrance, preventing other passengers from accessing the departure hall.

?Upon being informed of the missed flight, the politician resorted to violence, physically assaulting our staff and forcefully barricading the terminal?s entrance. He went as far as sealing the entry gate and manning the access point, effectively obstructing other passengers from gaining entry into the terminal,? Air Peace said.

The disruption reportedly caused significant delays for other passengers. In response, the airline activated a contingency plan to reroute travelers through an alternate terminal to minimise the chaos.

An airline official, speaking under anonymity, expressed shock at Oshiomhole?s behavior:

?He tried to disrupt our operations. He instigated a lot of his followers. He blocked the departure gates. He took laws into his hands. A senator??

Eyewitnesses and airline staff said the senator?s actions created a scene, with him allegedly jumping onto a baggage conveyor belt and attempting to carry seats to block the departure hall.

?He probably forgot that the airport has CCTV. He admits he came late but says he had checked in online,? the official said.

Video footage seen by ARISE News shows Oshiomhole visibly agitated, arguing with airline staff.

?I am not here for privilege, give me my ticket or give me my cash,? he is seen shouting.

Air Peace expressed disappointment that a public figure of Oshiomhole?s stature could act in a way they described as unbecoming and disruptive.

?We are deeply saddened that such a high-profile figure displayed conduct so unbecoming and disruptive to fellow passengers and our personnel. Air Peace maintains a zero-tolerance stance on violence or any form of aggression against our staff and passengers.?

Other late-arriving passengers reportedly acknowledged they had missed the flight but behaved civilly, with some even questioning whether Oshiomhole would have acted the same way at an international airport.

The official also explained that the airline had recently made changes to its schedules after May 12, due to a spike in bird strikes in Owerri and Port Harcourt. These changes included reducing flight frequency by 50% and placing more aircraft on standby?measures they say have resulted in 98% on-time performance.

?We changed things May 12 because of bird strikes and other extraneous factors? Since then, we?ve had 98% on-time performance, and the competition is jittery,? he said.

Despite the fracas, officials from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) were said to have witnessed the altercation, with the airline subtly suggesting that the agencies may have treated the matter too lightly. ?They appeared pleased with him,? the official claimed.

Air Peace has stated that it is preparing formal reports on the incident to be submitted to the Nigerian Senate, the NCAA, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant authorities for investigation and possible disciplinary action.

As of the time of filing this report, Senator Oshiomhole has yet to issue a public statement addressing the allegations. (AriseNews TV, excluding headline)

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