From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has said that about 24,000 persons have been reported and registered as missing following the over a decade insurgency in the North-East.
ICRC said on Friday that the latest figure collated with other volunteer organisations, including the National Red Cross and the Red Crescent, represents only a fraction of thousands of people missing in the violence in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe
The Regional Director of ICRC for Africa, Patrick Youssef, said people disappeared or missed in conflict when arrested or captured, taken to unknown destination without traces by families or relations.
“They might be alive, but simply do not have the means to contact their relatives,” Youssef was quoted in a statement issued on Friday to commemorate the International Day of the Disappeared.
He said the protracted violence in the North-East and conflicts in parts of Africa have resulted in the disappearance of many people
He described the humanitarian situation as a damaging consequence of conflicts in any society, calling for international support and resources from governments to respond to the issue of missing persons.
A commemoration event was held on Friday by ICRC sub-delegate office in Maiduguri with the families of the disappeared persons.
The International Day of the Disappeared is held annually to raise awareness on the plight of missing persons and in honour of their memories.