THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed that over 24,000 Nigerians have been reported missing by their families since 2015, with a significant number still unaccounted for, especially in the country’s conflict-ridden North-East region.
Speaking at a media workshop held in Maiduguri on Wednesday, María Toscano, the ICRC’s Protection of Family Links Team Leader, shared that Borno State alone accounts for about 9,000 missing persons, out of the total 16,000 registered in the North-East.
According to Toscano, 65 per cent of the missing were children at the time they disappeared, a staggering statistic that underlines the humanitarian crisis stemming from more than a decade of violent conflict in the region.
She noted that Bama Local Government Area in Borno had the highest concentration, with around 5,000 recorded cases.
The ICRC data also showed that 71 per cent of the missing person cases occurred between 2014 and 2015, a period marked by peak insurgent activity by Boko Haram and subsequent mass displacements.
Although the challenges are immense, Toscano said the organization remains committed to its tracing mission. In 2024 alone, the ICRC has successfully reunited 13 individuals with their families, while 11 more have been reintegrated so far this year.
However, limited access to conflict zones and the difficulty of contacting families continue to hinder progress. “There are still thousands of families living in anguish, not knowing the fate of their loved ones,” Toscano said.
Also speaking at the event, Diana Japaridze, Head of the ICRC Sub-Delegation in Maiduguri, expressed grave concern over the increasing number of unresolved missing person cases, particularly among families that have endured years of displacement.
“Some people spend years searching for loved ones, often with no result,” Japaridze said. “In the chaos of armed conflict and disasters, families can become separated in a matter of minutes—leading to long years of uncertainty about the fate of children, spouses, or parents.”
She emphasized that families have a fundamental right to know the fate of missing relatives, calling on the media to play a proactive role in raising awareness and advocating for the rights of affected families.
“The media can help society understand that this is not just a statistic, but a human tragedy that must be addressed with urgency and compassion,” she said.
The ICRC is calling for greater cooperation from the government, humanitarian partners, and the public to ensure accountability, transparency, and closure for thousands of grieving families.
