NCAA Confirms Nigerian Woman Found Safe In Qatar After Customs Held Phone, Passport, Triggering 48-Hour Search | Sahara Reporters

Achimugu said the woman’s mobile phone and passport had been held by Qatari Customs officials while they sought to clarify some issues, leaving her unable to contact her family or others during the process.

A Nigerian woman who went missing after arriving in Doha, Qatar, has been found safe and reunited with her family, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed this in a post on X on Sunday afternoon.

Achimugu said the woman’s mobile phone and passport had been held by Qatari Customs officials while they sought to clarify some issues, leaving her unable to contact her family or others during the process.

“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,” he said.

“However, she has been cleared and released, and has possession of her properties. She has contacted her family, too.”

According to Achimugu, the woman assured him that she was safe and thanked Nigerians who expressed concern over her disappearance.

“She assured me that she is safe, and she appreciates everyone who showed concern for her safety,” he said.

He also praised a Nigerian identified as Yusuf Adesoga for helping to trace the woman after her family raised the alarm.

“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,” Achimugu said.

Achimugu also commended the woman’s brother, Jibo, for raising the alarm after she 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,” he said.

He thanked Nigerians for their support and said he considered the matter closed following the woman’s assurance that she was safe.

“With her direct assurance that she is safe, I now consider this case closed from my end,” he said.

The woman’s brother, Jonathan Jibo, had raised the alarm on September 4 after being unable to reach his 37-year-old sister for more than 48 hours following her arrival in Doha.

Jibo said his sister had travelled from Lagos to Qatar on Qatar Airways flight QR 1408 on Tuesday, September 2, and that they had last communicated via WhatsApp while she was connected to the airport’s Wi-Fi.

He said the person assigned to pick her up at the airport could not locate her despite being told by airport and airline officials that she had collected her luggage and exited the terminal.

“She’s someone not new to airports…. because she have worked for almost 12 years here in Lagos Airport,” Jibo wrote.

He said the trip was her first time flying abroad and that she had no friends in Qatar. According to him, she had arranged and paid for her accommodation months in advance and was expected to resume work in Doha weeks after her arrival.

Jibo said he had asked an agent to report the matter to the authorities and seek access to CCTV footage to determine her movements after leaving the airport.

“I don’t even know what to tell mum, who has been hoping to hear from her since for the past 48hours + 😕 Jesus, take control please,” he wrote.

On Saturday, Achimugu had said he confirmed through the airline that CCTV footage showed the woman arriving safely, collecting her luggage and leaving the terminal.

“I have confirmed, via the airline, that CCTV shows your sister arrived safely, pick her bags, and exit the terminal,” he said.

He explained that investigations were initially slow because of public holidays in Qatar, adding that authorities were working to establish whether she had reached the hotel she had booked.

Achimugu said he had also alerted the airline to concerns about possible human trafficking or forced labour.

“I have informed the airline of fears about human trafficking, forced labour, etc.,” he said.

He added that if the woman had not arrived at her booked hotel, authorities would have begun a wider search.

“It is easy to track people once they have arrived in Doha,” he said.

Achimugu had also clarified that the matter was outside his official responsibilities, saying: “This isn’t my purview. Just going out of the way, please.”