A 37-year-old Nigerian woman who vanished after landing in Doha, Qatar, has been found safe inside a hospital, her brother confirmed on Sunday, September 6, 2026, bringing relief to a family that had spent days in anguish over her fate.
Saratu Jibo had boarded Qatar Airways flight QR1408 from Lagos bound for Doha, where she was set to begin a new job several weeks after settling in.
Her accommodation had been arranged and paid for well in advance, and someone had been sent to the airport to collect her. That person could not find her.
Saratu fails to make contact after landing in Doha
When Saratu failed to make contact after landing, her brother Jonathan Jibo raised the alarm publicly, appealing to anyone who could help locate her.
He noted that his sister was visiting Qatar for the first time and had no personal connections in the country who could assist in an emergency.
Saratu had spent close to 12 years working at Lagos airport before making the move, making her sudden disappearance all the more puzzling to those who knew her.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority gets involved
Early checks established that she had arrived in Doha, collected her luggage and walked out of the airport. What happened next remained unclear for days.
The family sought assistance from the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar and Qatar Airways.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority also got involved after its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, began making enquiries into her movements after she exited the airport.
Family delighted after sister is found
The search ended with good news when Jonathan confirmed that Saratu had fallen ill shortly after arriving and had been taken from the airport to a hospital, where she was eventually located.
“Good news… My sister has been found today, she was sick and was taken to the hospital from the airport,” he wrote in an update shared on X.
He expressed gratitude to all who helped amplify the search, singling out the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Qatar Airways and Achimugu for their involvement in the efforts to find her.
