Missing Nigerian woman found in Qatar hospital after family’s desperate search

By Johnson Arua

A 37-year-old Nigerian woman, Saratu Jibo, who was declared missing by her family after arriving in Doha, Qatar, has been found safe in a hospital.

Jibo had travelled from Lagos to Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1408 but became unreachable shortly after arriving in the country, sparking concern among her family and friends.

Her brother, Jonathan Jibo, had raised the alarm, saying she failed to contact the family and could not be found by the person assigned to pick her up from the airport.

He said his sister was visiting Qatar for the first time and had no friends in the country who could immediately assist in locating her.

According to him, her accommodation had been arranged and paid for months before her trip, while a designated pick-up person was waiting at the airport but could not locate her.

Jibo, who had worked at Lagos airport for nearly 12 years, was expected to begin a new job in Doha a few weeks after her arrival.

As concern over her whereabouts intensified, the family sought the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar, Qatar Airways and other relevant authorities.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also joined efforts to trace her after its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, began inquiries into what happened after she left the airport.

Earlier checks established that Jibo had arrived in Doha, collected her luggage and exited the airport, but her whereabouts afterwards remained unknown.

However, her brother on Sunday, September 6, confirmed that she had been located in a hospital.

“Good news… My sister has been found today, she was sick and was taken to the hospital from the airport,” Jibo said in an update shared on X.

He expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to the search, particularly the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Qatar Airways and Achimugu.

Jibo also thanked Nigerians and other social media users who shared the missing-person appeal and helped draw attention to the family's search.