The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed that more than 23,659 Nigerians remain missing, leaving 13,595 families in distress — the majority of them women grappling with pain, uncertainty, and economic hardship.
Mr. Ishaku Luka, Protection of Family Links Team Leader of the ICRC in Damaturu, disclosed this on Sunday during the commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared.
He noted that 68 percent of families searching for answers are women, while 59 percent of the missing were minors at the time they disappeared.
According to Luka, Yobe State alone accounts for about 2,500 cases, most of which were recorded in 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.
Missing Persons: A Crisis of Conflict and Displacement
Luka explained that disappearances in Nigeria are largely a consequence of armed conflicts, disasters, and migration. He urged authorities, parties to conflicts, and communities to take stronger measures to prevent more cases.
By June 30, 2025, the ICRC had recorded 451 new cases in Nigeria, successfully closed 515 cases, and facilitated the reunification of seven separated children with their families.
Globally, the organisation helps 20 people reunite with their families daily, clarifies the fate of two missing persons every hour, and enables four separated individuals to reconnect with loved ones every minute.
‘Time Does Not Heal, Acknowledgement Does’ — ICRC
The Head of ICRC Sub-delegation in Damaturu, Mr. Rashid Hassan, stressed that families of the missing must not be abandoned.
“Time does not heal. Acknowledgement, answers, and respect do. Families must know that their loved ones are not forgotten and their demands are heard,” Hassan said.
He added that the ICRC, in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), has been providing psychosocial support, livelihood assistance, and orientation programmes for families of missing persons in Borno and Adamawa states.
Hassan further urged authorities to meet their obligations by clarifying the fate of missing persons, protecting the dignity of the dead, and addressing the socio-economic needs of affected families.
Globally, he revealed, more than 94,000 people were newly registered as missing in 2024, bringing the total figure to 284,400 cases — though this represents only a fraction of the real number.
“As we commemorate this day, we renew our commitment to advocate for the rights of the disappeared and push for continuous efforts in searching for answers. No family should live with the torment of uncertainty,” Hassan concluded.
