Families of the Missing from Northeast Nigeria Join Global Red Cross Conference

Fifty families from the conflict-affected states of Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa joined over 900 participants from more than 50 countries for the opening of the fourth International Conference for Families of Missing Persons on Tuesday.

The hybrid conference,held in-person in Damaturu and online, brought together families who have endured years of agonizing uncertainty and psychological distress.

The unique global forum, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, aims to provide a platform for families, foster solidarity, and advocate for long-term responses to the devastating legacy left by conflict, migration, and violence.

The scale of the tragedy in Nigeria was starkly highlighted, with the ICRC revealing it has registered approximately 24,000 active cases of missing persons since the peak of the conflict in 2014. 

This figure represents the highest missing persons caseload for the ICRC anywhere in Africa and is believed to be only a fraction of the actual total.

In his opening remarks,the ICRC Head of Sub-delegation in Damaturu, Mr. Rashid Hasan, expressed deep solidarity with the families.

"We try our best to be with you and to learn from the wisdom you have gained on your journey, which has not been easy," he said.

Families present at the event expressed a mixture of profound grief and fragile hope, telling journalists that they continue to pray for the day their missing relatives are identified and reunited with them.

Our correspondent reports that,the three-day conference is designed to provide a confidential space for families to share their experiences and build resilience as they navigate their ongoing pain.

In Northeast Nigeria, years of violence and mass displacement have left countless families without any news of their loved ones, a situation exacerbated by ongoing insecurity that hinders tracing efforts.