Yobe Families Share Agonizing Stories as Missing Persons Toll Rises
Yobe
Families of missing persons in Yobe State gathered in Damaturu on Saturday to mark the International Day of the Disappeared, an annual commemoration dedicated to highlighting the plight of people who have vanished due to conflict, violence, and displacement.
The event, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), brought together relatives of the missing, government officials, and security agencies in a united call for urgent action to address what has become a deepening humanitarian crisis in the North-East.
Speaking at the gathering, Ishaku Luka, head of the ICRC Protection of Family Links team in Yobe, revealed alarming figures of disappearances in the region.
He disclosed that more than 23,000 cases of missing or separated persons have been documented across the North-East, with Yobe State alone accounting for about 2,500 cases.
He added that Gujba Local Government Area recorded the highest number of cases in the state.
“Every disappearance represents not just a missing person, but an entire family left in pain, uncertainty and fear,” Luka said. “The International Day of the Disappeared is a reminder of our collective responsibility to raise awareness and push for action in tracing and reuniting missing persons with their loved ones.”
For many families present, the event was not only symbolic but also deeply personal. Mothers, fathers, and children shared heartbreaking stories of uncertainty, describing years of waiting without knowing whether their loved ones were alive or dead. Several participants said the absence of answers had left emotional scars as deep as the loss itself.
The ICRC stressed that the search for missing persons requires collaboration between families, humanitarian organizations, and authorities, urging all stakeholders to prioritize tracing, information-sharing, and psychosocial support.
The commemoration also served as a platform for solidarity, as families found comfort in knowing they were not alone in their grief. Community leaders and security representatives reaffirmed their commitment to work with humanitarian partners to improve response mechanisms.
As conflicts and insecurity continue to ravage parts of the North-East, the families of the missing say their greatest hope is simple but profound: closure and reunion.
