As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the 2024 International Day of the Disappeared, the National Human Rights Commission is calling on stakeholders to work in synergy to improve on human rights and humanitarian support to Citizens, particularly those in difficult situations as a result of conflicts, natural disaster, migration and general insecurity.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN who stated this on the eve of the celebration of this year’s International Day for the Disappeared noted that there is need to keep tabs with the number of persons that go missing in Nigeria so as to follow up with their families and bring closure to such families.
According to the learned Silk, Nigeria recorded a high number of missing persons in the aftermath of insurgency in North East Nigeria which peaked around 2014, 2015 and 2016 with many persons including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities unaccounted for till date.
“While the North East Nigeria uprising seems to have reduced substantially, other forms of insecurity including banditry, kidnapping, farmers/herders clashes, among others have triggered unpleasant situations that predispose unsuspecting Citizens to torture , inhuman and degrading treatment, forced/irregular migration which sometimes result in missing persons’ syndrome ”, the Executive Secretary added.
It will be recalled that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stated in 2016, that, “The fate of loved ones during times of armed conflict and violence has continued to cause untold suffering and anguish for many globally.
“The right of families to know the fate of one who goes missing is enshrined in International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws and should be respected by governments through the creation and enforcement of laws that prevent such disappearances”.
The Executive Secretary also recalled that the Commission had in 2016 organised a National Dialogue which prompted discussions and improved people’s understanding of the issues on the disappeared and proffered recommendations that will promote the work of the National Technical Committee on the Establishment and Management of the Database on Missing Persons in Nigeria (NTC).
The International Day for the Disappeared is held annually on 30th August to pay attention to the number of persons who are missing as a result of migration, conflict, disaster, etc to identify and show solidarity to their loved ones.
