The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it is actively working to trace the whereabouts of about 1,500 people reported missing in Yobe State.
The head of the ICRC office in Yobe disclosed this on Thursday at a meeting in Damaturu ahead of the International Day of the Disappeared.
According to the organisation, the missing persons in Yobe are part of an estimated 17,000 people unaccounted for across Nigeria. About half of those reported missing were children at the time they disappeared.
The ICRC said people go missing for various reasons, including armed conflicts, natural disasters and migration, leaving their families to deal with significant emotional, psychological, financial and legal challenges.
Globally, more than 513,000 people had been registered as missing through the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s family-tracing network by the end of 2025.
The ICRC, which has been working with families of missing persons for more than 160 years, said its efforts extend beyond locating missing people to providing support for their families.
The official explained that the consequences of a disappearance go beyond the absence of a loved one, as families are often left struggling with uncertainty, loss of income, legal complications and emotional distress.
He stressed the need for the experiences and suffering of affected families to receive proper recognition and support.
As part of its response, the ICRC launched a support programme in Damaturu to help families cope with the emotional and psychological impact of having a loved one missing.
More than 50 families have so far benefited from the programme.
The organisation also carries out activities aimed at preventing family separation, restoring contact between relatives, tracing missing persons, clarifying the fate of those unaccounted for and ensuring that deceased persons are handled with dignity through proper management of human remains.
The chairman of the Families of the Missing association in Yobe said this year’s International Day of the Disappeared, with its focus on remembering missing persons and supporting their families, strongly reflects the experiences of affected families.
He emphasised that missing persons should not be viewed merely as statistics or case files.
“Every missing person is a parent, child, brother, sister, husband, wife, friend or loved one who matters,” he said.
The commemoration also featured a photo exhibition highlighting missing persons and displaying personal belongings, including shoes and clothing.
For families, the belongings serve as powerful reminders of their loved ones, helping them preserve memories and maintain a sense of connection while they continue to hope for answers.
