The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has launched efforts to establish the whereabouts of a 37-year-old Nigerian woman who became unreachable after arriving in Doha, Qatar.
The woman travelled from Lagos to Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1408 on Tuesday and reportedly last communicated with her family via WhatsApp shortly before the aircraft landed.
Her brother, Jonathan Jibo, raised the alarm on Friday, saying he had been unable to reach her for more than 48 hours.
The NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said on Saturday that the airline had confirmed through CCTV footage that the woman arrived safely in Doha, collected her luggage and left the airport terminal.
Achimugu said, “I have confirmed, via the airline, that CCTV shows your sister arrived safely, picked her bags, and exited the terminal.”
He said further checks would be carried out to determine whether she subsequently arrived at the hotel she had booked before travelling.
According to him, the checks had been delayed by the public holidays but were expected to establish whether the woman reached the hotel and whether she was transported there by the hotel’s designated pick-up vehicle.
Achimugu explained that every Qatar visa booking must be linked to a specific hotel reservation, adding that Discover Qatar would verify the hotel listed on the woman’s booking and establish whether she checked in.
“In some cases, passengers arrive at the hotel booked, and then leave quietly. DISCOVER QATAR will check to confirm the name of her hotel, and whether your sister did, indeed, get to the hotel,” he said.
The NCAA official also said he had alerted the airline to concerns over possible human trafficking and forced labour, adding that confirmation from the hotel would help determine the next course of action.
He said, “If she did not arrive at the hotel, a manhunt would ensue. It is easy to track people once they have arrived in Doha.”
Achimugu, however, clarified that the matter was not within his official responsibilities, saying he was only assisting the family in tracing the woman.
Jibo, in his initial appeal on X, said his sister was travelling to Doha for the first time and had no friends in the country. He added that her accommodation had been arranged and paid for several months before her trip.
According to him, the person assigned to pick her up at the airport waited for her but could not locate her, despite being informed by the airline that she had collected her luggage.
Jibo said his sister had worked at Lagos airport for almost 12 years and was expected to resume work in Doha weeks after her arrival.
He wrote, “Till now I can’t reach her phone, online, I don’t even know what went wrong.”
He also appealed to the Nigerian Embassy in Doha and other relevant authorities to assist in tracing her.
In a further update on Saturday, Jibo said his sister’s details had been forwarded to the Nigerian President in Doha and subsequently to the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar.
He said the family expected an update from the embassy on Monday, noting that the embassy does not operate during weekends.
The family is now awaiting the outcome of the checks to determine whether the woman reached her booked hotel and what happened after she left the airport terminal.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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