The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed that 284,000 people have been declared missing by their families worldwide.
Diana Japaridza, Head of Sub-Delegation at the ICRC Maiduguri Field Office, disclosed this on Saturday during a gathering held in Maiduguri to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, a day of unity and compassion dedicated to missing persons and their families.
The event was organised by the ICRC Maiduguri office.
Japaridza said the organisation joined families of the missing to honour victims of enforced disappearance and to stand in solidarity with their relatives.
“The issue of missing people is one of the most devastating and long-lasting consequences of armed conflict, violence, disasters, and migration. Across the world, hundreds of thousands of individuals are missing, many never return, leaving families shattered and searching for answers,” she said.
She explained that by the end of 2024, more than 284,000 people worldwide had been registered as missing with the Family Links Network of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
In Nigeria, she added, the ICRC has registered around 24,000 active cases of missing persons since 2014, when the conflict in the northeast peaked.
“This is ICRC’s highest caseload in Africa, and it likely represents only a fraction of the total number of missing persons in the country. More than half of them were children at the time they disappeared,” Japaridza said.
She noted that the impact of missing persons extends beyond families, affecting the entire society.
“It disrupts the fabric of communities, hinders reconciliation, and impedes social and economic progress. The weight of this issue often falls on families, who tirelessly seek answers throughout their lifetimes. Many are still living in uncertainty, causing agony and unspeakable suffering,” she added.
According to her, the event was a testament to the resilience of families of the missing, and an opportunity to reaffirm solidarity.
“As we commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared, let us pledge to continue standing together, weaving stories of remembrance and resilience until every missing person’s story finds its ending,” she urged.
Also speaking, Mr. Lawal Wakilbe, Borno State Commissioner for Education, expressed sympathy for the families’ suffering and assured them of the state government’s support.
Represented by Zainab Mustapha, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babagana Zulum on Education, Wakilbe encouraged families to remain prayerful for divine intervention and the possible reunion of missing persons with their loved ones.
