The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed a staggering number of missing persons in Nigeria, with 24,025 cases documented, primarily from the Northeast region. The decade-long Boko Haram conflict has ravaged states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, leaving countless families in distress.
Lillian Dube, Head of ICRC’s sub-delegation office, disclosed this information during a World Day of Disappeared Persons event in Maiduguri. She emphasized that the actual number of missing persons might be significantly higher, as the reported cases only represent a fraction of the total.
Dube highlighted that over half of the missing individuals were children at the time of their disappearance. While 492 cases have been resolved, and 1,364 families have received news about their loved ones’ fate, many remain uncertain. The ICRC and Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) are closely monitoring 618 separated children searching for their relatives.
Efforts to reconnect families include exchanging 1,286 messages, facilitating seven phone calls, and providing support to over 600 families through the ICRC’s accompaniment program. Awareness campaigns have been launched to prevent separations, with messages disseminated through various channels, including radio broadcasts and community announcements.
