Business
Uncertainty as Nigerian woman remains unreachable after arriving Doha airport
The family of a 37-year-old Nigerian woman who travelled to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday has raised concerns after she became unreachable shortly after arriving in the country.
The woman, Saratu Jibo Yusuf, travelled from Lagos to Doha on Qatar Airways flight QR1408 on 1 September, according to her ticket, which PREMIUM TIMES saw.
Her brother, Jonathan Jibo, told PREMIUM TIMES that the last communication he had with his sister was via WhatsApp while she was still on the aircraft, using its Wi-Fi, on Tuesday.
He said a family friend who was expected to receive her at the airport was already waiting when the flight arrived, but could not find her.
The family subsequently contacted the airline and the airport, where they were told that Ms Yusuf had collected her luggage and left the terminal.
Mr Jibo said the issue was particularly worrying because his sister was familiar with airport procedures, having worked at the Lagos airport for almost 12 years.
“She is not even a child. She is 37 and always wants to be independent and hardworking,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.
According to him, this was Ms Yusuf’s first trip outside Nigeria. She had no friends in Qatar whom the family could contact immediately, and the family had already arranged and paid for her accommodation months before the journey.
She was also expected to resume work in Doha a few weeks after her arrival, he said.
Mr Jibo added that his sister had financed the trip herself and that the family had no reason to expect she would voluntarily cut off communication immediately upon arrival.
“She worked and financed everything from scratch,” Mr Jibo said, expressing concern over her whereabouts.
Family seeks answers
Mr Jibo raised the alarm on Thursday after 48 hours without hearing from his sister.
He called for the review of CCTV footage and urged authorities to establish the last person seen with her after she left the airport.
The family has also forwarded details of the case to the Nigerian authorities and the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, with relatives hoping to learn her whereabouts.
The case has drawn attention to the importance of tracing the movements of passengers who become unreachable after leaving airports.
In May 2024, a similar concern was raised over Janet Kwalmi Ere, a 67-year-old woman who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from London.
Ms Ere was reported missing after boarding an airport taxi shortly after her arrival. Former Senator Ben Murray-Bruce called for airport CCTV footage to be reviewed and for the taxi she boarded to be identified.
Three days later, Mr Murray-Bruce announced that Ms Ere had been found and thanked security agencies and others who assisted in the search. He did not disclose details of where or how she was located.
The earlier case highlights the importance of quickly establishing what happens to passengers after they leave an airport, particularly when their families are unable to reach them.
NCAA reaction
Reacting to the development, Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said he had contacted the airline and was informed that CCTV footage showed Ms Yusuf arrived safely, collected her luggage and exited the terminal.
He said further checks were being made to establish whether she had reached the hotel booked for her and whether she had arrived there by the hotel’s pick-up vehicle.
According to Mr Achimugu, Qatar’s visa booking system is tied to a specific hotel reservation, and Discover Qatar would be able to check the accommodation details linked to Ms Yusuf’s trip.
He also said he had informed the airline of the family’s concerns, including fears about possible human trafficking or forced labour.
Mr Achimugu, however, did not say Ms Yusuf had been trafficked, abducted or subjected to forced labour.
He said if checks established that she did not reach the hotel, authorities would have to begin a manhunt.
He urged the family to remain calm while efforts to establish her whereabouts continued, adding that although the matter was not formally within his purview, he had intervened to assist the family.
He also said the investigation was taking time because it was the weekend and a public holiday period in Qatar.
READ ALSO: Qatar Airways’ Lagos–Doha flight returns safely after in-flight technical issue
Airline responds
Qatar Airways responded to the issue on Saturday after Mr Jibo’s message to the airline. He sent the airline his sister’s flight details and asked it to investigate the matter.
In a message seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the airline said it understood the family’s concerns and was in contact with its team to obtain information that could help clarify the situation.
“Hello, Jonathan. We understand your concern and are in touch with our team to inquire about any information that may help clarify the situation,” the airline said.
It added that it would share updates as soon as they became available.
The airline’s response came after the family had spent days trying to establish Ms Yusuf’s whereabouts.
As of Sunday morning, there was no confirmation from the family, Qatar Airways or Nigerian authorities that Ms Yusuf had been found.
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A passenger has died aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Nairobi to Lagos after becoming unresponsive about 20 minutes before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Kenya Airways confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, saying the medical emergency occurred at about 9:20 p.m. Nigerian time on Tuesday.
The airline said its crew administered first aid to the passenger in line with their training and followed emergency procedures before the aircraft landed at 9:41 p.m.
“Upon landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 21:41 hrs, the aircraft was met by medical personnel, and upon further examination, the medical personnel confirmed that the passenger had passed away,” the airline said.
Kenya Airways expressed condolences to the passenger’s family and friends and said it was providing support in coordination with the family, local authorities and aviation regulators.
The airline did not disclose the identity of the passenger or the cause of death, saying it would respect the privacy and dignity of those involved.
NCAA responds
Responding to the incident, Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), said the police have taken over the investigation.
Mr Achimugu said he was briefed by Kenya Airways’ country manager on Wednesday morning.
According to him, the passenger had reportedly been picked up in Madagascar after authorities there denied him entry and was being returned to Nigeria by Kenya Airways.
He said the airline was expected to return the passenger because it had transported him to Madagascar.
“The country manager said he was picked from Madagascar, after customs had earlier denied him entry into the country, and as expected, the airline that brought him into the country must take him back,” Mr Achimugu said.
He further said the passenger allegedly became restless and aggressive during the return flight, attempted to gain access to the cockpit and later tried to open the rear door of the aircraft.
He explained that the passenger was subsequently restrained by members of the crew.
“When he got into the aircraft, he became restless and aggressive inside the aircraft, wanted to enter the cockpit and later wanted to open the rear door, but was later tied down. His hands were tied to his back to ensure that he stopped the troubles,” he said.
Mr Achimugu said the passenger was pronounced dead after the aircraft arrived in Lagos.
“But when he got to Nigeria, he was declared dead on arrival. I don’t want to pre-empt the police investigation, but they have taken it over for now,” he said.
He added that the deceased’s family could request an autopsy as the investigation progresses.
Police begin investigation
The spokesperson for the Airport Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Muhammed Adeola, confirmed that an investigation had commenced.
Mr Adeola said the incident involved an “inadmissible passenger” and that complications reportedly developed during the return flight.
“Yes, it’s true, and investigations have commenced. It’s an issue of an inadmissible passenger, and the said complications arose on their way back,” he said.
He said the passenger became unable to breathe before medical personnel were alerted ahead of the aircraft’s arrival.
Mr Adeola said the police have taken statements from members of the flight crew, including the captain.
He added that the body had been deposited at a morgue in Ikeja.
Similar incident
The death is not the first reported case of a passenger dying aboard an international flight bound for Lagos.
In March 2019, a 54-year-old passenger aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta, United States, to Lagos was found unresponsive shortly before the aircraft landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The passenger was confirmed dead after the aircraft landed, with medical personnel meeting the flight at the airport.
Medical emergencies have also led to international flights returning to Lagos.
In September 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a United Airlines flight from Lagos to Washington, D.C., returned to Lagos after a passenger suffered a medical emergency about 90 minutes into the journey. Medical personnel attended to the passenger after the aircraft landed.
Kenya Airways said it is providing the necessary support in coordination with the deceased passenger’s family, local authorities and aviation regulators.
The airline also apologised for any inconvenience the incident may have caused other passengers.
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