A 37-year-old Nigerian woman who went missing shortly after arriving in Doha, Qatar, has been found and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The woman’s disappearance had sparked widespread concern online after her brother, Jonathan Jibo, appealed for help on X on Thursday, saying the family had been unable to contact her for more than 48 hours.
Jibo said his sister travelled from Lagos to Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1408 on Tuesday. According to him, their last communication was while she was still on the aircraft, using the airline’s in-flight Wi-Fi.
He said a person assigned to receive her at the airport was waiting when the flight landed but could not locate her. The airline later confirmed that she had collected her luggage.
The situation heightened concerns within the family, particularly because the woman had worked at Lagos Airport for nearly 12 years and was experienced in navigating airports.
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 in advance, as she was expected to begin a new job in Doha weeks after her arrival.
According to him, the trip was facilitated by a family friend.
Jibo had urged authorities to review airport CCTV footage to determine where his sister went after leaving the aircraft and identify anyone who may have been with her.
“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,” he wrote.
The appeal was widely shared on X and eventually attracted the attention of Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Achimugu subsequently worked with the Nigerian Embassy in Doha and Qatar Airways to help 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 thanked the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Achimugu, Qatar Airways and members of the public who shared and amplified his appeal.
He described the support from Nigerians online as “more than gold” to his family during the period of uncertainty.
The woman is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital in Doha, according to her brother.
