Airport Police Command, said it would arraign two passengers for unruly conduct after they reportedly smoked cigarettes aboard an Air Peace flight from South Africa to Lagos.
The suspects were identified as Enaruna Prince Aghama, 51, and Tony Ajayi, 43.
According to a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, ASP Mohammed Adeola, the two suspects were handed over to the International Airport Police Division by Aviation Security (AVSEC) operatives on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, for further investigation.
Preliminary findings indicated that the incident occurred at about 7:44 p.m. on Thursday while the aircraft was en route to Lagos.
“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,” the statement read.
Police further stated that investigators found the suspects were in possession of an alcoholic beverage and allegedly refused to cooperate with cabin crew members who attempted to enforce safety regulations.
The statement added that the pair “became uncooperative and verbally aggressive when cabin crew members attempted to de-escalate the situation and enforce established safety regulations, thereby further disrupting the orderly conduct of the flight.”
While reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, condemned the alleged actions of the passengers, describing them as a threat to aviation safety.
She said: “Any act capable of compromising aviation safety or disrupting the orderly operation of an aircraft is unacceptable.”
Olufunke added that the 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.”
She also appealed to air travellers to comply with lawful instructions issued by airline operators and aviation officials, stressing that “maintaining discipline and orderly conduct aboard aircraft is a shared responsibility essential to safe air travel.”
The police said the suspects would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
