Simi Calls Out Double Standards in Ibom Air Saga: 'Punish Those Who Posted the Video Too'

In a development that has further fueled the raging controversy surrounding the Ibom Air incident, popular Nigerian singer Simi has waded into the conversation with a strong stance against what she perceives as selective justice. The award-winning vocalist took to her Instagram stories to share her thoughts on the viral video of a woman being forcefully removed from an Ibom Air flight — a clip that has dominated social media feeds and triggered widespread outrage. While acknowledging that the woman’s alleged unruly behavior might indeed warrant legal repercussions, Simi questioned why equal accountability was not being demanded from the person who filmed and circulated the video without editing or blurring sensitive content.

Simi’s post, which has now been screenshotted and shared across multiple online platforms, revealed her disapproval of how the situation has been handled so far. She wrote, “So let’s say the lady is actually mad and did too much… someone recorded her being dragged off the plane, recorded her being exposed like that AND THEN POSTED IT without editing out this exposure or blurring it out. Lol. I personally wanna know who posted that video and why no one is holding him/her accountable. Because aunty will face the law, but voluntarily posting her half naked for millions of people to see when less than 10 people actually witnessed it in the first place deserves punishment too. Because you can’t condemn one madness and leave another one.”

The incident in question has sparked national debate over the conduct of airline staff, the behavior of the passenger, and now, the ethics of those who document and share such scenes online. The video — now widely circulated — shows a visibly distressed woman being escorted off an aircraft by security personnel, with moments in the footage revealing parts of her body exposed in a way that many have described as humiliating and deeply invasive. The original clip appeared to have been recorded by a fellow passenger and subsequently shared without any attempt to obscure the woman’s identity or protect her dignity.

For many observers, Simi’s intervention brings to light an often-overlooked aspect of viral culture: the responsibility of those behind the camera and the consequences of their actions. In an era where “content” can be uploaded to millions of viewers within seconds, ethical considerations are frequently cast aside in the rush for clicks, likes, and shares. Legal experts have pointed out that while the law in Nigeria does provide avenues for prosecuting certain forms of non-consensual image distribution, enforcement is sporadic, and public awareness remains low.

The singer’s comments have resonated with a large section of Nigerians who believe the conversation has so far been too one-sided. While much attention has been focused on whether the passenger’s conduct warranted her removal from the plane and subsequent arrest, there has been little public condemnation of the individual who chose to record and publish footage that included nudity. Social media users have echoed Simi’s point, arguing that the act of broadcasting such an intimate and vulnerable moment is itself a form of violation — one that can have long-lasting psychological and reputational consequences for the victim.

One Twitter user wrote, “Simi is 100% right. We can’t just focus on the passenger’s wrongs and ignore the fact that someone basically exposed her nakedness to millions. That’s not journalism, that’s exploitation.” Another commented, “If you recorded that video and posted it online, you are part of the problem. We can’t keep letting this slide because it’s ‘just social media.’ There are real people with real feelings involved.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Nigerian celebrities have called out what they perceive as a toxic culture of public shaming in the digital space. Over the years, various incidents — from police brutality encounters to domestic disputes — have been recorded and posted online, often without the consent of those involved. In many cases, the viral attention these videos generate has led to further harassment of the individuals filmed, with little or no accountability for the person behind the camera.

Simi’s choice of words, particularly her use of the phrase “you can’t condemn one madness and leave another one,” has struck a chord for its directness and relatability. It suggests a need for a more holistic approach to justice — one that does not stop at punishing the most visible actor in a scandal but also scrutinizes the roles of those who contribute to the harm in less obvious ways. Her remarks also challenge the public to consider whether the glee with which such videos are consumed and shared makes us complicit in perpetuating harm.

Some legal analysts have suggested that if the woman involved in the Ibom Air incident chooses to pursue a case against the person who filmed and shared the footage, she might have grounds under Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act, which criminalizes certain acts of privacy violation. However, they also acknowledge the practical difficulties of such cases, including identifying the original uploader and proving intent. Regardless, Simi’s post may have already achieved one important thing: reframing the narrative to include the question of privacy and dignity alongside that of lawful conduct.

The fallout from the Ibom Air saga shows no signs of slowing down. Public opinion remains deeply divided, with some insisting that the passenger’s alleged disruptive actions endangered other travelers and justified the measures taken by the airline, while others argue that the situation could have been handled with more professionalism and less force. The airline itself has released statements defending its staff’s conduct, while also promising to review its handling of sensitive incidents.

In the meantime, the video continues to circulate online, its reach amplified by reposts from countless accounts on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook. And with each new share, the debate over the ethics of recording and distributing such content grows louder. For Simi, the issue appears clear: accountability must be consistent, and justice should not stop at the most obvious target. As her words continue to spread, they may well spark a broader conversation about digital responsibility in Nigeria’s increasingly online society.

Whether her call will lead to tangible legal consequences for the original poster of the video remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Simi’s intervention has shifted the spotlight, forcing both the public and authorities to reckon with an uncomfortable truth — that the harm of a single incident can be compounded by the thousands who watch, share, and comment, often without a thought for the person at the center of the storm. And until the culture of viral exploitation is confronted as seriously as the initial misconduct, the cycle of outrage, humiliation, and forgotten accountability will continue to spin, one trending topic at a time.