The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has confirmed that a 37-year-old Nigerian woman, Saratu Jibo Yusuf, who became unreachable after arriving in Doha, Qatar, has been found safe, cleared by Qatari authorities and reunited with her family.
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The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed the development on Sunday, bringing to an end days of anxiety over the woman’s whereabouts after she travelled from Lagos to Doha aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1408.
According to Achimugu, Yusuf’s mobile phone and international passport had been held by Qatari Customs while officials sought to clarify certain issues, leaving her unable to contact her family during the period.
“FINAL UPDATE: I have spoken with the lady. She is safe. Her mobile phone and international passport were held by Customs who were trying to clarify some issues. She was unable to reach anyone while the process was ongoing. However, she has been cleared and released, and has possession of her properties. She has contacted her family, too,” Achimugu wrote.
He added that Yusuf personally assured him that she was safe and expressed appreciation to those who had shown concern and participated in efforts to locate her.
The NCAA official also clarified reports that Yusuf had been found in a hospital, explaining that Qatari Customs had taken her to the hospital during the period she was under their care.
Her brother, Jonathan Jibo, had earlier announced that she had been found in a hospital after becoming ill.
“Good news… My sister has been found today, she was sick and was taken to the hospital from the airport,” Jibo said.
Responding to questions about the hospital account, Achimugu said: “Yeah. Customs took her to the hospital for obvious reasons. The important thing is that she was cleared of any wrongdoing.”
The clarification provided a fuller picture of events after Yusuf’s arrival in Doha and explained why she suddenly became unreachable despite evidence showing that she had safely landed in Qatar.
Concern over her whereabouts began after Jibo raised an alarm on social media, saying his sister had remained unreachable for more than 48 hours after travelling from Lagos to Doha.
He said the last communication with her occurred while she was connected to the aircraft’s WiFi during the journey.
A person designated to receive her at the airport reportedly waited for her but could not locate her, while the family was also unable to reach her by phone.
The situation became more concerning because Yusuf was travelling to Qatar for the first time and, according to her brother, had no friends in the country.
Her accommodation had reportedly been arranged and paid for months before the journey, while she was expected to resume a new job in Doha weeks after her arrival.
Yusuf had also reportedly worked at Lagos airport for almost 12 years before making the trip.
Following the family’s alarm, Achimugu contacted Qatar Airways and subsequently disclosed that CCTV footage showed Yusuf arriving safely in Doha, collecting her luggage and exiting the airport terminal.
“I have confirmed, via the airline, that CCTV shows your sister arrived safely, picked her bags, and exited the terminal,” he had said.
The CCTV confirmation established that Yusuf had not disappeared aboard the aircraft or within the airport arrival process, but questions remained about what happened after she collected her luggage and why she could no longer be contacted.
Further checks were subsequently initiated to establish whether she had reached her booked accommodation or used the designated airport pick-up arrangement.
Achimugu had also disclosed that Qatar Airways had been informed of the family’s concerns, including fears about possible human trafficking or forced labour, while efforts continued to trace her movements.
The search eventually produced information that Yusuf had been located and was safe.
Before speaking directly with her, Achimugu said he had received information that she had been sighted and was with fellow Nigerians but declined to disclose further details until he had personally confirmed her condition.
“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.
He later confirmed speaking with Yusuf and disclosed that Qatari Customs had retained her phone and passport while clarifying issues, which prevented her from communicating with her family.
Achimugu also commended Yusuf Adesoga, a Nigerian resident in Qatar, who he said collaborated with him in the search and visited several security agencies in Doha before eventually helping to locate Yusuf.
“I would like to thank a dear Nigerian, @YusufAdesoga, who collaborated with me and, at great inconvenience, visited all security agencies in Doha, and eventually tracked the lady to where she was found today. Mr. Yusuf is exemplary, and I appreciate his effort,” he said.
He also praised Jibo for quickly raising the alarm when his sister became unreachable.
“I must also acknowledge the lady’s brother, Jibo, for sounding the alarm bell when his sister went incommunicado. He refused to back down, and his effort got millions of Nigerians united in an effort to find his sister,” Achimugu said.
Jibo, for his part, expressed gratitude to Nigerians and organisations that assisted in drawing attention to the case, including the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, Qatar Airways and the NCAA official.
“My family and I are forever grateful,” he said.
The latest clarification has now resolved the immediate mystery surrounding Yusuf’s disappearance, with the NCAA confirming that she was safe, had been cleared of any wrongdoing, regained possession of her passport and mobile phone and had re-established contact with her family.
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