Red Cross: Borno has 9,000 missing persons — highest in Nigeria

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says Borno state has the highest number of missing persons in Nigeria, with over 9,000 cases recorded.

María Toscano, head of the ICRC’s protection of family links team, spoke on Wednesday during a media workshop held in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Toscano said Borno alone accounts for more than half of the 16,000 missing persons recorded across the north-east, and a significant portion of the over 24,000 cases registered nationwide.

She said 71 percent of the disappearances occurred between 2014 and 2015 when the Boko Haram insurgency intensified in the region.

She added that Bama LGA has the highest caseload — with around 5,000 persons unaccounted for.

“Sixty-five percent of those reported missing in the north-east were children at the time they disappeared,” Toscano said.

The ICRC chief said 11 individuals have been reunited with their families this year, while 13 others were reintegrated in 2024.

She listed restricted access to conflict zones and challenges in contacting families as key obstacles to tracing efforts.

Diana Japaridze, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Maiduguri, described the increasing number of unresolved cases in Borno as deeply concerning.

Japaridze urged the media to amplify the plight of missing persons and the suffering of families still waiting for answers.

“Some people spend years searching for loved ones, often with no result. Families have a right to know their fate,” she said.

“In the chaos of armed conflict and displacement, families can be separated in minutes — leading to years of emotional distress and uncertainty.

“While states have a legal responsibility to address the issue, the media must also play its part in raising awareness and helping the public understand the scale of the crisis.”