The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that 24,000 individuals in Nigeria have gone missing, with over half of them being children at the time of their disappearance. This alarming figure was revealed by Patrick Youssef, the ICRC’s Regional Director for Africa, during a statement marking the International Day of the Disappeared on August 30.
Youssef emphasized the severe humanitarian crisis posed by the large number of missing persons, particularly in northeastern Nigeria, where ongoing armed conflict in the states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe has caused widespread displacement and loss of contact among families. Volunteers from the Nigerian Red Cross are actively working in these regions to help reconnect families by delivering Red Cross messages. Additionally, the ICRC is providing mental health support, legal advice, and financial assistance to affected families.
Across Africa, the number of missing persons has reached 71,000 as of June 2024, representing a significant 75% increase from the last recorded data in 2019. The rise in missing persons is attributed to prolonged armed conflicts, natural disasters, and perilous migration journeys. Youssef noted that behind every missing person is a broader humanitarian tragedy, as families endure the agony of not knowing the fate of their loved ones.
Youssef stressed that under international humanitarian law, state authorities have the primary responsibility to determine the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. In Nigeria, the ICRC’s registration of 24,000 missing individuals likely represents only a fraction of the actual number, underscoring the need for continued efforts to address this crisis and provide support to those affected.