The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed alarming statistics showing that 13,595 families across Nigeria are actively searching for 23,659 missing persons, highlighting a humanitarian crisis that continues to tear families apart.
Speaking during the International Day of the Disappeared commemoration in Yola on Saturday, ICRC Family Link Officer Benson Lee disclosed that the majority of those missing were children when they disappeared. A staggering 59% of the missing persons were minors at the time of their disappearance, while Borno State accounts for 67% of all cases.
A Global Crisis with Local Impact
The Nigerian figures are part of a broader global tragedy. Lee revealed that in 2024 alone, more than 94,000 people were registered as missing worldwide through the Family Links Network, bringing the total number of registered missing persons to approximately 284,400. However, he emphasised that these numbers represent only a fraction of the true scale of the problem.
“Behind each missing person is a family living in anguish and uncertainty, struggling with the pain of not knowing what happened to their loved ones,” Lee explained. He noted that families face not only emotional trauma but also economic, legal, administrative, psychological, and psychosocial challenges.
Armed Conflict: The Primary Driver
Luka Wada, Chairman of the Family Association of Missing Persons, acknowledged the ICRC’s efforts in reuniting missing persons with their families while revealing that armed conflicts are responsible for 80% of the disappearances.
“We thank God we are alive and remembering our loved ones who are still missing,” Wada said, expressing both gratitude for survival and ongoing grief for those lost.
Wada made an urgent appeal to governments and non-governmental organisations to provide support for relatives of the missing, many of whom were the primary breadwinners for their families before disappearing.
Call for Hope and Action
Dr. Jamila Suleiman, Chairman of the Adamawa Peace Commission, offered words of comfort to affected families while outlining ongoing efforts to prevent future disappearances. She urged families to “take solace in God, remain prayerful, and not lose hope of reuniting with their loved ones.”
Suleiman assured that the commission is actively working to ensure peaceful coexistence across Adamawa State to prevent conflicts that could lead to additional cases of missing persons.
The commemoration served as both a remembrance of those still missing and a call to action for greater support for affected families who continue to search for answers and closure.
