Over 1,500 Missing Persons Reported in Yobe State

Syed Rashid Hassan, the Head of the ICRC Sub-Delegation in Damaturu, announced that over 1,500 people are missing in Yobe State during an event on the 2026 International Day of the Disappeared. This figure is part of more than 17,000 missing-person cases being monitored by the ICRC in Nigeria, with over half of those missing being children at the time of their disappearance.

Hassan emphasized that these numbers likely represent only a fraction of the total missing persons in the country. He described the issue as a devastating consequence of armed conflict and violence, affecting families emotionally, economically, and psychologically.

The ICRC is collaborating with the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders to support affected families, prevent disappearances, and improve systems for documenting unidentified bodies. Hassan also mentioned the launch of a psychological support program in Damaturu, which has assisted over 50 families.

He called for enhanced national legal frameworks and support systems for families of missing persons.