The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has disclosed that more than 23,659 individuals are still missing in Nigeria, leaving 13,595 families in deep anguish—most of whom are women enduring prolonged uncertainty and hardship.
Mr. Ishaku Luka, Protection of Family Links Team Leader of the ICRC in Damaturu, shared these figures on Sunday during activities marking the International Day of the Disappeared. He revealed that 68% of families searching for their missing loved ones are women, while 59% of those missing were minors at the time they disappeared. Yobe State alone accounts for 2,500 of the cases, predominantly from Gujba Local Government Area.
“Behind every missing person is a family living in pain, uncertainty, and economic difficulty. The anguish is further compounded by legal, administrative, and psychosocial challenges. These families deserve acknowledgment, care, and support,” Luka stated.
He described disappearances as one of the most devastating consequences of armed conflict, disasters, and migration, urging authorities, communities, and parties involved in conflicts to take greater responsibility in preventing such tragedies.
By June 30, 2025, the ICRC had documented 451 new missing persons cases in Nigeria this year, closed 515 cases, and facilitated the reunification of seven separated children with their families. Luka noted that globally, the ICRC helps reunite 20 people with their families every day and clarifies the fate of two missing persons every hour.
Mr. Rashid Hassan, Head of the ICRC Sub-delegation in Damaturu, emphasized that families of the missing should not be left to struggle alone. “Time does not heal. Acknowledgment, answers, and respect do. Families must know that their loved ones are not forgotten and that their calls for justice are heard,” he said.
Hassan added that, in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the ICRC has provided psychosocial support, livelihood assistance, and orientation programs for affected families in Borno and Adamawa states. He called on authorities to fulfill their obligations by clarifying the fate of missing persons, protecting the dignity of the deceased, and addressing the economic and social needs of those left behind.
Globally, over 94,000 new missing persons cases were registered in 2024, bringing the total number of missing individuals worldwide to 284,400. Hassan stressed that these figures represent only a fraction of the true scale of the issue.
“As we observe this day, we renew our commitment to advocate for the rights of the disappeared and to push for continued efforts to find answers. No family should live with the torment of uncertainty,” he concluded.
