Conflict: 25,000 persons missing in North-East – Group
No fewer than 25,000 persons are said to be missing according to stakeholders as they meet to ensure their families are not forgotten.
According to a statement made available on Monday to our correspondent by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the victims are a result of the conflict in the North-East.
The statement was signed by Aliyu Dawobe and Pat Griffiths and issued ahead of its Tuesday meeting with stakeholders co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and, Social Development as well as the National Human Rights Commission.
The stakeholders said the essence of the meeting would be to seek solutions for those missing and their families, the Deputy Protection Coordinator ICRC, Kouame Adjoumani, was quoted to have said.
Adjoumani added, “Behind every missing person, there are many more people suffering from the anguish and uncertainty of not knowing the fate and whereabouts of a loved one.
“Families of the missing face economic, psychosocial, administrative and legal difficulties all at once – and can be unable to rebuild their lives until these challenges are overcome.”
The meeting was conveyed to raise awareness, establish collaborative networks, develop methods towards solutions, build avenues for engagement, as well as discuss priorities and an action plan to support families of the missing.
Also, Anne-Sofie Stockman, a delegate, who works with families of the missing for the ICRC in Nigeria, disclosed that the actual number of missing persons could be much higher than 25,000.
She disclosed that more than 90 per cent of ICRC missing cases in Nigeria are connected to the armed conflict in the northeast.
“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.”
Our correspondent reports that in 2022, together with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the ICRC helped exchange 4319 ‘Red Cross messages’ and facilitated 812 phone calls between separated family members, while facilitating 14 family reunions and provided psychosocial, economic, legal, and administrative support to 156 people affected by missing loved ones.
