By Chidinma Nwaoji
Over 24,000 Nigerians Still Missing Since 2015 — Red Cross Raises Alarm
More than 24,000 Nigerians have been reported missing since 2015, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which continues efforts to locate and reunite them with their families.
Speaking at a media workshop held in Maiduguri on Wednesday, María Toscano, who leads the ICRC’s Protection of Family Links team, revealed that Borno State accounts for the highest number of cases. Of the over 16,000 people listed as missing in the North-East, approximately 9,000 are from Borno alone.
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Toscano noted that a significant number of these disappearances about 71 per cent occurred between 2014 and 2015. Bama Local Government Area, in particular, holds the highest single caseload, with an estimated 5,000 missing persons.
She added that children represent a staggering 65 per cent of those unaccounted for in the region, many of whom were minors at the time they disappeared.
Despite challenges such as limited access to conflict-affected areas and difficulty reaching families, Toscano confirmed that the ICRC has successfully reunited 11 individuals with their families so far in 2025, and 13 in 2024.
Also speaking at the event, Head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, expressed concern over the growing number of unresolved cases. She lamented that many families have lived in agony for years, unsure of the fate of their loved ones.
“In conflict situations, families can become separated within minutes, leading to years of pain, unanswered questions, and vulnerability,” Japaridze said.
She urged the media to play a vital role in raising awareness and shedding light on the emotional and humanitarian toll of the missing persons crisis.
“The media must help keep this issue in the public eye. Families have the right to know what happened to their loved ones. We encourage journalists to approach the topic with sensitivity, accuracy, and a deep sense of responsibility,” she added.
