According to stakeholders, no fewer than 25,000 individuals are reported missing, prompting a meeting aimed at ensuring their families are not forgotten. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released a statement on Monday, signed by Aliyu Dawobe and Pat Griffiths, highlighting that these victims are a consequence of the ongoing conflict in North-East Nigeria. This statement was issued in anticipation of a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, along with the National Human Rights Commission.
The primary objective of the meeting is to seek solutions for the missing individuals and their families, as noted by Kouame Adjoumani, the Deputy Protection Coordinator for the ICRC. He emphasized that behind every missing person lies a multitude of people suffering from the anguish and uncertainty of not knowing the fate or whereabouts of their loved ones. Families of the missing face a myriad of challenges, including economic, psychosocial, administrative, and legal difficulties, which hinder their ability to rebuild their lives until these issues are addressed.
The meeting aims to raise awareness, establish collaborative networks, and develop strategies to find solutions. It will also focus on building avenues for engagement and discussing priorities and an action plan to support families of the missing. Anne-Sofie Stockman, a delegate working with families of the missing for the ICRC in Nigeria, revealed that the actual number of missing persons could be significantly higher than the reported 25,000. She noted that over 90 percent of ICRC’s missing cases in Nigeria are linked to the armed conflict in the northeast, stating, “Our caseload of more than 25,000 missing people in Nigeria is likely just the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of those missing is likely much higher.”
In 2022, the ICRC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, facilitated the exchange of 4,319 ‘Red Cross messages’ and enabled 812 phone calls between separated family members. Additionally, they supported 14 family reunions and provided psychosocial, economic, legal, and administrative assistance to 156 individuals affected by the absence of their loved ones.
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