Every year, on August 30th, the world marks the International Day of the Disappeared, a day set aside to honour the countless people who have gone missing in the context of armed conflict, violence, migration or disaster.
Globally, the scale of the crisis is staggering. As of 2025, more than 284,000 people were officially registered as missing with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Yet, humanitarian organisations stress that the true number of disappeared persons is far higher, running into millions.
Nigeria is no exception to this tragedy. A recent Daily Trust report captured figures from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which revealed that more than 17,000 people are registered as missing in the country. Over 90 per cent of these cases are linked to armed conflict and insurgency in the North-East, as well as banditry and mass kidnappings in the North-West and North-Central regions.
The numbers are particularly higher in the North-East, with Borno State alone accounting for about 9,000 missing persons, while Adamawa has 3,000 and Yobe 2,500. Together, these three states recorded nearly 14,500 cases. The report also revealed that insurgency remains the major cause of disappearances in the region, leaving thousands of families trapped between hope and grief.
This data is deeply troubling for a country that prides itself on democratic principles. Missing persons represent a hidden humanitarian crisis that rarely receives adequate attention. Too often, the issue only surfaces during international commemorations, but in reality, thousands of Nigerians continue to be affected due to the relentless activities of insurgents, bandits, and other non-state actors. Natural disasters such as flooding also contribute to the crisis, while enforced disappearance- a situation where individuals are secretly abducted, detained, or imprisoned by state authorities, with government agencies refusing to acknowledge their fate or whereabouts adds another disturbing dimension.
For instance, Amnesty International has categorised the circumstances surrounding the 2019 disappearance of government critic Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyatta, as enforced disappearance. He was abducted by armed men shortly after arriving at his Kaduna residence, and six years later, his fate remains unknown. Similarly, the case of Kaduna-based mechanic Saidu Yusuf Gamana, allegedly taken by security agents since 2021, remains unresolved. His family, like many others, continues to wait in anguish, hoping for a reunion.
Beyond enforced disappearances, Nigeria has a troubling history of arbitrary arrests. There are several reports of individuals languishing in prisons or secret detention facilities, either because they cannot afford bail or because they are detained at the behest of powerful individuals. These practices not only violate constitutional rights but also deepen the anguish of families who are left in the dark.
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), which has long faced accusations of enforced disappearance and unlawful detention, has since 2025 begun reassessing what it described as ‘prolonged inherited cases’ to ensure that individuals illegally detained are released with compensation. While this is a step in the right direction, it must be institutionalised and expanded to cover all cases of unlawful detention. The DSS must also entrench a system of transparency so that detained individuals are allowed access to their families and legal representation.
No doubt, the humanitarian consequences of missing persons are disturbing, as behind every missing individual lies a network of family members suffering from uncertainty and anguish. Even when victims are eventually found and reunited with their families, the ordeal is far from over. The healing process can take years, as victims and families grapple with physical and psychological scars from long-term separation or dehumanising conditions in detention.
The ICRC, which continues to document, trace and support families of missing persons, deserves commendation for its tireless work. However, Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the police, must strengthen their investigative departments to bring closure to families. Even when investigations go cold, the police have a responsibility to review cases periodically and reopen them when necessary. Crucially, they must also keep families updated with periodic progress reports.
Judicial authorities also have a role to play. Chief Judges of states must accelerate prison visitation mechanisms to ensure accountability and justice for victims who have been left to languish for minor offences or due to their inability to meet bail conditions. Such oversight would help prevent arbitrary detentions and restore public confidence in the justice system.
Ultimately, Nigeria must confront this crisis with urgency. It requires stronger investigative capacity, judicial oversight, and accountability from security agencies. It also demands sustained public attention, not just symbolic recognition once a year. The media and civil society organisations must continue to bring adequate publicity to this crisis and hold appropriate authorities accountable.