Nigeria’s insecurity crisis: ICRC reports 24,025 people unaccounted for
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has disclosed that 24,025 people are currently reported missing in Nigeria, with the Northeast region bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The Boko Haram conflict, which has persisted for over a decade, has had a catastrophic impact on the states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
At an event commemorating the World Day of Disappeared Persons in Maiduguri, Lillian Dube, Head of the ICRC’s sub-delegation office, highlighted the gravity of the situation.
The ICRC, in partnership with the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), has carefully documented these cases, underscoring the urgent need for action.
She said, “We have registered 24,025 people as missing, a number that likely represents only a fraction of the actual total.
“More than half of these cases involved children at the time of their disappearance.”
So far, 492 cases have been resolved, bringing closure to families of missing loved ones. Additionally, 1,364 families have received news clarifying the fate of their missing relatives, she added.
However, 618 separated children are still searching for their families and are being closely monitored by the ICRC and NRCS. Fortunately, four children have been successfully reunited with their families.
The ICRC has also facilitated the exchange of 1,286 messages to re-establish contact between separated family members, including those in detention.
Furthermore, seven phone calls have been made to help reconnect families. To address the psychological and emotional impact on families of the missing, over 600 families have received comprehensive support, including psychosocial, economic, legal, and administrative assistance, through the ICRC’s accompaniment program.
