A Nigerian family has raised concerns over the whereabouts of a 37-year-old woman who became unreachable shortly after travelling from Lagos to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, flew on Qatar Airways flight QR1408 and was expected to be received by a person who had been designated to pick her up after her arrival in Doha.
According to her brother, Jonathan Jibo, the last communication they had with her was through WhatsApp while she was still aboard the aircraft, using the flight’s internet service.
Jibo said the aircraft landed safely in Doha, but the woman did not show up to meet the person waiting for her. Attempts by the family to trace her through the airport and the airline have so far failed to establish her whereabouts.
He said the airline informed the family that she had picked up her luggage, a development that has further heightened their anxiety over what happened after she left the baggage area.
The family’s concern is also linked to the woman’s familiarity with airport procedures, having reportedly worked at the Lagos Airport for almost 12 years. The trip was said to be her first journey outside Nigeria, while she had no friends or known contacts in Qatar.
Jibo explained that her accommodation and other necessary arrangements in Doha had been secured several months before her journey. She was also expected to begin a new job in the country a few weeks after her arrival.
The matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, after an X user, @digitalWorldB, tagged the aviation official in a post seeking attention to the case.