The families of missing people, government officials and security forces met on Saturday in Damaturu to mark the International Day of the Disappeared.
The event, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross highlighted a united front to address the humanitarian challenge of missing persons in the North-East region.
Addressing the plight of missing persons, Ishaku Luka, the ICRC Protection of Family Links team led in Yobe, revealed that “over 23,000 registered cases of separation or missing persons have been reported in the North-East, with approximately 2,500 cases in Yobe State. Gujba LGA has the majority of these missing cases.”
Luka emphasized that the International Day of the disappeared serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about the plight of missing persons and to call on stakeholders to take action.
He said, “The ICRC’s Protection of Family Links program aims to prevent separation and locate individuals who have been separated due to the armed conflict in the North-East.
“The program collects tracing requests and works to reunite family members, “he emphasised.
Luka explained that the ICRC uses various methods to restore contact between separated family members, including Red Cross messages and physical transportation of individuals, especially the most vulnerable.
He said the event brought together government officials, stakeholders, security officers, and families of the missing, demonstrating a united front in addressing the humanitarian challenge.
“The event featured presentations on the needs of the missing, testimonials from affected families, and experience sharing from the family association.
“It served as a beacon of hope, highlighting the ongoing work to reunite loved ones separated by the armed conflict in the North-East, Luka explained.
Usman Mohammed, the communication field cfficer highlighted the significance of the International Day of the Disappeared, which aims to bring together families, partners, and the ICRC team to create awareness on handling cases of missing persons.
Earlier in a remark, the Head of the Damaturu Sub-Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Syed Rashid, assured the relatives of missing persons that the organization is committed to finding information about their loved ones.
He emphasized that the ICRC works hand-in-hand with security agencies and relevant authorities to achieve this goal.
The Secretary of the Association of Missing Persons of Adamawa State, John Audu, and two other members of the family of disappeared persons, Abubakar Lawan Goni and Asmau Ali Ibrahim, shared their experiences with the situation of missing someone. They described it as a terrible and difficult experience to live with.
The International Committee of the Red Cross in Damaturu is calling on parents to teach their children to understand their phone numbers, addresses, and names of their immediate family members.
This can facilitate easy identification in case of any eventuality or missing cases.
The event served as a platform for raising awareness and promoting action to support families of missing persons in the North-East region.
