International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed that more than 23,659 people remain missing in Nigeria, leaving 13,595 families in anguish, most of them women facing prolonged uncertainty and hardship.
Mr. Ishaku Luka, Protection of Family Links Team Leader of the ICRC in Damaturu, disclosed the figures on Sunday during activities marking the International Day of the Disappeared.
He noted that 68 per cent of families searching for answers are women, while 59 per cent of those missing were minors at the time of their disappearance. Yobe State alone accounts for 2,500 cases, mostly from Gujba Local Government Area.
“Behind every missing person is a family living in pain, uncertainty and economic difficulty. The anguish is compounded by legal, administrative and psychosocial challenges. These families deserve acknowledgement, care and support,” Luka said.
He described disappearances as one of the most devastating consequences of armed conflicts, disasters and migration, urging authorities, communities and parties to conflicts to take greater responsibility in preventing such tragedies.
By June 30, the ICRC had documented 451 new cases in Nigeria this year, closed 515 cases, and facilitated the reunification of seven separated children with their families. Luka highlighted that globally, the ICRC helps reunite 20 people with their families every day and clarifies the fate of two missing persons every hour.
Mr. Rashid Hassan, Head of the ICRC Sub-delegation in Damaturu, stressed that families of the missing should not be left to struggle alone. “Time does not heal. Acknowledgement, answers and respect do. Families must know that their loved ones are not forgotten and their demands are heard,” he said.
Hassan explained that in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the ICRC has provided psychosocial support, livelihood assistance and orientation programmes for affected families in Borno and Adamawa states.
He urged authorities to fulfill their obligations by clarifying the fate of missing persons, protecting the dignity of the dead and addressing the economic and social needs of those left behind.
Globally, more than 94,000 people were newly registered as missing in 2024, bringing the total number to 284,400. Hassan stressed that the figures represent only a fraction of the reality.
“As we commemorate this day, we renew our commitment to advocate for the rights of the disappeared and to push for continuous efforts in searching for answers. No family should live with the torment of uncertainty,” he said.
