The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, says that there are over 35 active armed conflicts in Africa today, and is responsible for the disappearance of thousands of people, including children in Nigeria, and other African countries.

ICRC’s Head of Delegation, Yann Bonzon, stated this in Abuja on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, marked annually on August 30.

According to ICRC Head of Delegation, the ICRC in Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross assisted in the exchange of 1,250 Red Cross messages containing family news, re-establishing contact between separated family members, while 440 phone calls were made by families to maintain family contact, in 2022 alone.

Said Bonzon: “During displacement, children face risks such as exploitation, violence, mental stress and disappearance. Many also end up alone, with no news of their families’ whereabouts. The ICRC has more than 5,200 documented cases of unaccompanied children in Africa”.

In his welcome address, Tony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, noted that the issue of missing persons has become increasingly prominent in Nigeria, not only because of the consequences of the conflicts in various parts of the country, but as a result of increased acts of criminality nationwide, senseless and ruthless Killings and armed hostilities.

“It is therefore in recognition of the pain and suffering of such family members and in honour of the memory of the missing loved one that we are gathered today.

“The National Human Rights Commission which was established for the promotion and protection of the rights of every person in Nigery, recognizes the need to respect the rights of families to know the fate of their loved ones.

“It is in recognition of this right that we have facilitated the establishment of a database of missing persons in Nigeria which would address the gap that exists in documentation of cases of missing persons and also give families a platform to engage with, in addressing cases of their missing loved ones,” he said.

In his remark at the event, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, commended the efforts of the NHRC, ICRC and NRCS and others that have continued to bring the issue of the disappeared and their families to the limelight.

PRNigeria