Coordinator of Protection of Family Links at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Delphine Bermijn, has said Nigeria currently has Africa’s highest active missing persons caseload, with about 17,000 families still being actively assisted by the Red Cross in tracing missing loved ones.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Bermijn explained that the figure represents families who have approached the ICRC and the Nigerian Red Cross for help in locating relatives separated by armed conflict, violence, disasters or migration.
“Nigeria has, if we compare it with other countries in Africa, the highest active tracing caseload of missing persons in Africa.”
She clarified that the figure should not be interpreted as the total number of missing persons in Nigeria, noting that it only reflects cases reported to the Red Cross.
“Whatever figure the Red Cross or the Red Crescent shares in public is just the number of families who approached us.”
Bermijn disclosed that while the organisation previously reported about 24,000 active tracing cases, the number was revised after it lost contact with several families displaced by conflict, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East.
She explained that despite repeated efforts, including phone calls, physical visits and bulk SMS messages, some families could no longer be reached because they had relocated or moved to inaccessible areas.
“We’re still actively looking for 17,000 families.”
According to her, inaccessible communities, lack of awareness about Red Cross services and communication challenges continue to prevent many affected families from reporting missing relatives.
“There are different factors. Some families don’t even know that they can come to the Red Cross and ask for our help.”
Bermijn said the organisation has received valuable support from community leaders, religious leaders, camp officials and government authorities in carrying out tracing activities, adding that stronger collaboration and information sharing would further improve efforts to locate missing persons.
She also urged families who had previously opened tracing cases but lost contact with the Red Cross to reconnect through the organisation’s offices, volunteers or its toll-free call centre.
“If you have the possibility, try to go physically to one of the offices… or call our free number, 0800 5000 4000, so we can reconnect with you and continue the search.”
Ojo Triumph
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