The International Committee of the Red Cross Nigeria has revealed that over 25,000 people have been registered as missing in the country over the past decade.
According to The PUNCH, these individuals have been reported as missing by their families who have sought the ICRC’s assistance in locating them.
Dawobe, the Public Relations Officer for ICRC Nigeria, acknowledged that the actual number of missing persons could be significantly higher, as many families may not be aware of the ICRC’s services or may choose not to report their missing loved ones.
“ICRC Nigeria started family unification in 2013 in Nigeria alongside the Nigerian Red Cross society.
“The 25,000 missing persons is only a fraction of people who are aware that ICRC is helping to reunite separated/missing family members. They register their cases and there are over 25,000 cases of such,” Dawobe said in a statement.
Despite the challenges, the ICRC has made significant progress in reuniting separated families. In 2023 alone, the organization traced over 400 missing persons and restored contact between families in over 500 cases.
Additionally, 17 unaccompanied children were reunited with their families through the ICRC’s efforts.
To further address the issue of missing persons, the ICRC is organizing the 3rd International Conference for the Families of the Missing.
This conference will bring together families from around the world to share their experiences, learn from each other, and develop coping mechanisms.
