Have you ever wondered what it takes to become the face of a country’s media coverage? Meet Onijah Andrew Johnson, a New York woman whose trip to Pakistan became a viral international spectacle. After traveling to Karachi, Pakistan, to marry her 19-year-old boyfriend in October of 2024, Johnson found herself stranded, staging press conferences, making bizarre demands, and refusing to leave—even as the Pakistani government offered to send her home. But who exactly is Onijah, and how did she become an overnight internet sensation?
Who is She?
Once she arrived, she met her boyfriend, Nidal Ahmed Memon, whose family refused to let their relationship continue. When reported by the New York Post, she “refused to leave,” and the “stranded” woman began camping outside his family home.”
Johnson was in Pakistan for three months, overextending her tourist visa. However, in those months, she began to hold press conferences with crowds of reporters hungry for her information. Wanting the insider scoop on the reason for her outrageous demands such as, “I’m asking for $100,000 or more, I need $20,000 by this week…in my pockets in cash…that’s a demand to the government, the government is gonna fix up these buildings, fix up these streets, and clean up these streets its ridiculous out here I do not like it.” 
Additionally, her plans to “reconstruct Pakistan included her comment, “I would love for you guys to please understand Pakistan needs new busses, new cabs, new cars, please listen to what I’m saying my name is Onijah Ahmed.” her demands were combinations of delirious clap backs and delusion like her belief she was married seen through yet another interview with her saying, “As I said, Pakistan needs to be reconstructed the right way, do you hear me guys, make sure y’all get this on your camera, I’m married to Nidal Ahmed, I’m Onijah Ahmed we are loving to Dubai very soon we’re gonna have our baby in Dubai.”
As well, “I’m not talking unless y’all give me land and $2,000 or more every week…I’m getting my Pakistani passport and Pakistani ID,” then asks, “I’m getting it, do y’all agree?” taking a mic from a reporter while being asked a question by another responding with “Mind your business.”
This situation has gone so far that the NGO has offered to pay for her ticket back to the United States. Governor Kamran Khan Tessori offered to extend her expired visa and set up a flight for her to return home, but she was not successful in getting accepted.
When a reporter asks, “What are you doing here?” she responds, “ I don’t live here; I’m chillin’ here.” Then, asked by the same reporter, “Why are you not taking your flight?” she snapped back, “It’s none of your business. Now go home.”
From further notice, her family hasn’t commented on any of the press, other than her alleged son claiming “Ms. Robinson has “bipolar disorder,” stressing he was trying to get her back to the US,” the Mail Online reports” from NYPost.
Her interviews have blown up on TikTok, where her famous quote, “It’s private. I’m Muslim, and it’s against my religion to tell y’all my business have a nice day,” has become a meme. Under videos reporting her commentary, you would see comments such as “She’s running that country” and “I want this delusion.”
A few hours ago, when asked again, “Do you want to return to your country?” Johnson replies, “Umm, it’s private, but no, I do not. I’m from Pakistan now.”
Further, the reporter asks, “How has Pakistan helped and taken care of you?” She reveals her team of people behind her, saying, “Umm Shabana…she’s been taking care of me.” Shabana, a police officer, said, “She’s been taking care of you?” further elaborating, “Yes, everybody, this is my team.”
Many believed Onijah to be delusional, with a hint of something else going on mentally. Others thought her to be a financially hungry woman willing to pull publicity stunts as she had done, leaving the internet and the public a little confused and entertained.
