From Umar Dankano, Yola
Stakeholders have praised the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for its timely interventions in supporting families of missing persons in the North East and across Nigeria.
This commendation was voiced during the 2024 International Day of the Disappeared ceremony, organized by the ICRC to honor families of the missing or disappeared in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, on Friday.
In a goodwill message, Mr. Morris Godfrey, an official of the National Human Rights Commission, expressed deep concern for the plight of the families, highlighting the psychological trauma they endure due to the absence of their loved ones.
He reassured the families that humanitarian workers and organizations are in solidarity with them, working diligently to ensure their dignity and quest for justice are upheld.
Mr. Godfrey also lauded the ICRC’s efforts in providing technical, material, social, and economic assistance, urging other humanitarian organizations to follow suit.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Edgar Amos, Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, reiterated the Adamawa State government’s commitment to peace and security.
Dr. Amos acknowledged the substantial support and contributions from humanitarian organizations, particularly the ICRC, and emphasized the importance of reciprocal cooperation.
Dr. Amos also offered condolences to the families of the missing persons, encouraging them not to lose hope in reuniting with their loved ones. He urged the ICRC to share data with the state government for coordinated efforts.
In her welcome address, Fatima Halilu, Deputy Head of Sub-Delegation at the ICRC Mubi office, lamented that hundreds of thousands of people are missing or separated from their families due to armed conflicts, violence, disasters, and migration.
Many, she noted, never return or are heard from again. Halilu stated that ICRC’s database has recorded 24,000 missing persons in the North Eastern states due to ongoing armed conflicts, with most of the missing reported as children at the time of their disappearance.
She emphasized that despite years of searching, only a few have been found, which represents a global humanitarian tragedy on a large scale.
“We want the families to know that they are not alone, that their loved ones are not forgotten, and that we, as ICRC, together with our sister organization, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, will continue to do our utmost to help them obtain the answers and support they deserve,” Mrs. Halilu pledged.
Shuaibu Dauda, Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) in the state, echoed similar sentiments, urging families to maintain their resilience and strength in the search for their loved ones until success is achieved.
Dauda noted that according to a 2022 survey by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Adamawa State has over 555,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) forced to flee their homes due to violence and conflicts, reflecting the anguish and uncertainty faced by these families.
He also mentioned that the NRCS has deployed over 12,000 volunteers who are working diligently on awareness campaigns to prevent family separations among displaced communities across the state.
Responding on behalf of the families of the missing persons, Mallama Sa’adiya Abubakar expressed gratitude for the presence of all stakeholders, stating that their support was a significant relief, showing that the world stands with them in their grief.
She thanked the ICRC and other partners for their tireless efforts to reunite them with their loved ones, emphasizing that their gratitude will endure.
