Respect Nigerians Coalition protest against British Airways's mistreatment

A 'Boycott BA' protest was held on 17 September, 2008, at the British Airways Head Office in Harmondsworth, near Heathrow, highlighting the mistreatment of Ayodeji Omatode by the airline. Mr Omatode was one of a group of Nigerian travellers on a BA flight to Lagos who voiced complaints over the mistreatment of a man being forcibly removed from the UK.

The man was being held down by four or five police officers and could be heard pleading that he would die if he was sent back to Nigeria. Mr Omatode was forcibly removed from the plane and arrested after voicing his concern for the man. A further 134 passengers were ordered to leave the plane to facilitate the deportation.

The Respect Nigerians Coalition had held protests at the British Airways AGM earlier this year and plan to promote a campaign to 'boycott BA' until all charges are dropped against Mr Omatode and a written apology is received by all passengers ejected from the flight.