Missing Nigerian woman found in Qatar after viral appeal

A 37-year-old Nigerian woman who went missing shortly after arriving in Doha, Qatar, has been located and taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The woman’s disappearance sparked concern online after her brother, Jonathan Jibo, sought public assistance on X on Thursday, saying the family had been unable to reach her for more than 48 hours.

Jibo said his sister travelled from Lagos to Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR 1408 on Tuesday. Their last communication, he explained, was while she was still on the aircraft using the airline’s in-flight WiFi.

According to him, a person assigned to receive her at the airport was waiting after the flight landed but could not locate her. He said the airline subsequently confirmed that she had collected her luggage.

The development reportedly raised concerns within the family, particularly because the woman had extensive experience navigating airports after working at Lagos Airport for nearly 12 years.

Jibo said the trip was her first journey outside Nigeria and that she had no friends or relatives in Qatar. He added that her accommodation and other arrangements had been paid for months earlier, as she was expected to begin a new job in Doha weeks after her arrival.

He said the trip was facilitated by a family friend and urged authorities to review airport CCTV footage to establish where she went after leaving the aircraft.

“I told the Agent to file a report with the Authorities which we have been communicating well so we can see the CCTV camera footage of her ‘last seen’ and identify who was with her last that can give us a lead,” Jibo wrote.

His appeal was widely circulated on X and eventually attracted the attention of Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

Achimugu, working with the Nigerian Embassy in Doha and Qatar Airways, joined efforts to establish the woman’s whereabouts.

The search ended on Sunday when Jibo announced that his sister had been found.

“Good news. My sister has been found today, she was sick and was taken to the hospital from the airport,” he said.

Jibo expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Achimugu, Qatar Airways and members of the public who shared and amplified his appeal.

He described the support received from Nigerians online as “more than gold” to his family during the period of uncertainty.

The woman is currently receiving medical attention in a hospital in Doha, according to her brother.