ICRC Reports 17,000 Missing in North-east Nigeria Crisis

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that over 17,000 individuals displaced by Boko Haram in North-east Nigeria are still missing, despite operational successes by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) against insurgency. ICRC spokesperson Aliyu Dawobe revealed this figure during a training for journalists on humanitarian reporting in Lagos, noting it was reduced from over 24,000 due to loss of contact with some families.

The ongoing crisis has lasted over 16 years, leaving millions in need of food and over three million children malnourished. Dawobe emphasized the media's role in highlighting the suffering of affected individuals and called for a shift in reporting to focus on human-angle stories.

The training involved 50 journalists and aimed to enhance their skills in reporting on humanitarian issues. Dr Bala Muhammad from Bayero University stressed the importance of updating journalists on International Humanitarian Law to improve their coverage of victims' hardships.