A Nigerian woman who lost contact with her family shortly after travelling to Qatar has been found in a hospital in Doha, bringing an end to days of uncertainty over her whereabouts.
The 37-year-old woman had travelled from Lagos to Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR1408 and reportedly became unreachable around the time the aircraft arrived in Qatar.
Her brother, Jonathan Jibo, had earlier raised the alarm, explaining that she was visiting Qatar for the first time and did not have friends in the country.
According to him, her accommodation had been secured and paid for several months before her departure, while a person assigned to pick her up from the airport was unable to find her.
The woman, who had spent nearly 12 years working at Lagos airport, was expected to begin a new job in Doha a few weeks after her arrival.
Her disappearance generated widespread concern, prompting appeals for assistance from the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar, aviation authorities and members of the public.
However, Jibo announced on Sunday that his sister had been found.
In a post on X, he disclosed that she had fallen ill after arriving in Qatar and was subsequently taken from the airport to a hospital.
He said, “Good news… My sister has been found today, she was sick and was taken to the hospital from the airport.”
Jibo also thanked individuals and organisations that assisted in efforts to locate his sister, particularly the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Qatar Airways and the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu.
“A big thanks to each and everyone of you online. The Nigerian Embassy in Doha, to ‘The Boss’ Michael Achimugu @mikeachimugu01 and the Qatar Airways Admin, who was kind and understanding. A big thanks to everyone who liked, repost, shared, tagged and commented towards her safety.
“My family and I are forever grateful.”
The family’s confirmation came a day after Achimugu disclosed that initial checks with the airline indicated that the woman had arrived safely in Doha.
According to Achimugu, CCTV footage showed that she collected her luggage and left the airport terminal.
“I have confirmed, via the airline, that CCTV shows your sister arrived safely, picked her bags, and exited the terminal,” Achimugu had said.
He later disclosed that efforts were underway to determine whether she had made it to the hotel that had been booked for her before her trip.
In another update, Achimugu said he had received information indicating that the woman was safe and had been seen.
“I am being informed that the lady is safe, and has been sighted. She is with fellow Nigerians at the moment, but I cannot disclose details until I have heard from her directly. All will be well,” he said.
(PUNCH)
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