The Airport Police Command in Lagos says it will arraign two passengers for allegedly smoking and engaging in unruly conduct aboard an Air Peace flight from South Africa to Lagos, an incident that reportedly triggered the aircraft’s emergency smoke alarm and caused panic among passengers.
The command disclosed this in a statement on Friday signed by its spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Adeola, identifying the suspects as Enaruna Prince Aghama, 51, and Tony Ajayi, 43.
According to the statement, Aviation Security personnel handed the suspects over to the International Airport Police Division after the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, for further investigation.
Police said preliminary findings showed the incident occurred at about 7:44 p.m. on Thursday while the flight 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.
The command added that investigators found the suspects were in possession of an alcoholic beverage and allegedly became uncooperative when cabin crew attempted to enforce safety procedures.
It stated 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.”
Commenting on the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, described the alleged conduct as unacceptable.
“Any act capable of compromising aviation safety or disrupting the orderly operation of an aircraft is unacceptable,” she said.
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 urged travellers to comply with lawful directives issued by airline operators and aviation personnel, 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 after investigations are concluded.
