International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed that out of 64,000 cases of disappeared persons reported across Africa, over 25,000 Nigerians with almost 14,000 children.
The International Day of Disappearance is marked on August 30 of each year, to draw attention to the fate of individuals imprisoned at places and under poor conditions unknown to their relatives or legal representatives.
The Head of delegation for the ICRC in Nigeria, Yann Bonzon, said the number of missing children registered does not capture the full scope of the often-neglected and tragic humanitarian issue.
“With over 35 active armed conflicts in Africa and thousands of people, including children, crossing borders, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea that such movements often expose them to greater risk, including disappearance.
“There is no doubt that there are more children whose fate remains unknown,” he said.
Bonzon said the agency has documented more than 5,200 cases of unaccompanied children in Africa.
“The ICRC in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society between January to June 2022 have assisted in the exchange of 1,250 Red Cross Messages containing family news and reunited 31 separated children unaccompanied minors with their families and 440 phone calls were provided to families to maintain contact,” he said.
Patrick Youssef, Regional Director for ICRC in Africa, advocated for the right policies to be put in place to protect migrants and families of missing persons, noted that families of the disappeared face immense pain and obstacles that often transcend to generations.
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