International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, said about 24,000 persons, mostly children, were reported missing in Nigeria as at June.
ICRC noted that this figure represents “only a fraction” of the total number of missing persons in the country.
ICRC’s Regional Director for Africa, Patrick Youssef, said this in a statement yesterday, to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, with the theme: ‘We Who Remain Behind Remember’.
International Day of the Disappeared is observed every August 30 to help raise awareness on the plight of the missing, honour their memories and ease the emotional distress of families.
Youssef said more than 71,000 persons were registered missing in Africa, which represents a 75 percent rise from 40,708 in 2019.
He noted that based on registered cases, Africa has the highest caseload of missing persons, highest number of unaccompanied children and the highest number of family reunifications.
He explained that the prolonged armed conflicts in Africa is a major cause of the disappearance of thousands of people in the continent.
He added that other factors include natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, perilous migratory journeys which put vulnerable people at risk of separation and disappearance.
“The issue of missing persons, including those who forcibly disappeared, remains one of the most damaging and long-lasting humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts and other situations of violence for all loved ones, whether a waiting wife or a heartbroken one.
“Behind every missing person, there are countless more suffering from anguish and uncertainty. It is a humanitarian tragedy for families, one that has consequences across all of society.
“In the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, for example, volunteers from the Nigerian Red Cross have been working on delivering Red Cross messages to many families who have lost contact with their loved ones due to armed conflict.”
He said ICRC also provided the families with mental health support, legal advice, and, in some cases, financial support.
Youssef called for a more determined international effort towards preventing and responding to the issue of missing persons.
“Political will is an essential step to obtain the necessary resources to respond to this issue, including the cooperation between authorities, both at the national level and across borders.
“In armed conflict, both civilians and combatants go missing. They can go missing when they are arrested or captured, detained and are held incommunicado.
“They may be alive but simply do not have the means to contact their relatives.
“However, these authorities may lack resources, knowledge or political will to do so. The ICRC and national societies can play a crucial role.”
