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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has responded to a claim that a female traveller, Ms Saratu Jibo Yusuf, went missing after arriving in Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, saying CCTV footage confirms she landed safely, picked up her luggage and exited the terminal.
The clarification followed a viral post by one Jonathan Jibo, who said his 37-year-old sister with ticket number: 157-2377854991 had been unreachable for over 48 hours after boarding QR 1408 flight from Lagos to Doha on Tuesday.
Jibo raised the alarm on X on Friday, saying he last spoke to his sister via WhatsApp while she was connected to the plane’s WiFi.
“It’s been 48 hours+ My sister boarded a flight from Lagos International Airport to Doha Qatar (QR 1408) on Tuesday, 2nd flight. The person who is to pick her up in the airport was waiting already. The problem is the flight landed safely but he never gets to see her,” he wrote.
Jibo said airline officials told the person waiting that she had pick up her luggage.
He described his sister as an independent, hardworking airport worker of almost 12 years who was not new to travel procedures.
“Till now I can’t reach her phone. (She’s not) online. I don’t even know what went wrong… this (is) her first time flying abroad and had no friends in Qatar,” he said.
According to him, she had paid for her accommodation months ahead and was scheduled to resume work in Doha weeks after arrival.
He added that the trip was arranged by a long-time family friend.
“I told the agent to file a report with the authorities (and) we have been communicating well so we can see the CCTV camera footage of her ‘last seen’ and identify who was with her last that can give us a lead,” Jibo explained.
“I don’t even know what to tell mum, who has been hoping to hear from her since for the pass 48hours+ Jesus, take control please. It wasn’t a free offer she worked and financed everything from scratch,” he further stated.
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Responding on X on Saturday, NCAA spokesman, Michael Achimugu, said he had confirmed details with the airline.
“I have confirmed, via the airline, that CCTV shows your sister arrived safely, pick her bags, and exit the terminal,” Achimugu stated.
He added that because Saturday and Sunday are like public holidays in Qatar, investigations were moving slowly.
But authorities will confirm “later today or tomorrow” whether she arrived at the hotel she booked, and if she used the hotel pick-up vehicle, he said.
Achimugu added, “Every Qatar visa booking must be tied to a specific hotel reservation. 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.
Achimugu also said he had informed Qatar Airways of the family’s fears about possible human trafficking or forced labour.
“They have assured that once the hotel confirms her check-in or otherwise, the issue becomes easier to treat. If she did not arrive at the hotel, a manhunt would ensue. It is easy to track people once they have arrived in Doha,” he stated.
He urged the family to remain calm:
“If you have not heard from her, please, remain calm until tomorrow.”
Achimugu added: “This isn’t my purview. Just going out of the way, please.”
