Over 25,000 people have been reported missing in Nigeria, with almost 14,000 or more than half of the missing children.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) made this known in a recent report on the number of disappeared persons across Africa.

The report was released in commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared, which is observed every 30 August to draw attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives or legal representatives.

According to the latest figures from the humanitarian organisation, 64,000 cases of disappeared persons have been reported across Africa.

‘Sadly, the almost 14,000 children registered do not capture the full scope of this often-neglected and tragic humanitarian issue. There is no doubt that there are more children whose fate remains unknown’, the head of the delegation for the ICRC in Nigeria, Yann Bonzon, said.

In northeast Nigeria, there are more than 1.9 million people displaced from their homes with 60 percent of them children.

During displacements, children face risks such as exploitation, violence, mental distress, and disappearance.

‘Having the right policies in place can save lives. It is an essential step to protect migrants and families of missing persons. This is a question of humanity and human dignity’, the Regional Director for ICRC in Africa, Patrick Youssef, said.

‘Families of the disappeared face immense pain and obstacles that often transcend generations. They are stuck in limbo, unable to move forward or grieve. The search for their loved ones never ends’.

It is understood that between January and June 2022, the ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) have assisted in the exchange of 1,250 Red Cross messages containing family news, reuniting 31 separated children and/or unaccompanied minors with their families.

Source: ICRC

Photo source: IRIN Photos