The International Committee of the Red Cross has said no fewer than 25,000 people have been reported missing in Nigeria.

The organisation said out of the figure, 14,000 were children whose whereabouts remained unknown.

In a statement, ICRC’s Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Yann Bonzon, stated that the documented cases of missing persons were on the rise.

ICRC also disclosed that these registered cases do not capture the full scope of the often-neglected and tragic humanitarian issue.

The statement partly read, “In Nigeria alone, over 25,000 people have been reported missing. Almost 14,000 or more than half of the missing are children.

“There are over 35 active armed conflicts in Africa today, thousands of people, including children, cross borders, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety and a better life each year. Such movements often entail great risk, including the risk of disappearance

“Sadly, the almost 14,000 children registered does not capture the full scope of this often-neglected and tragic humanitarian issue. There is no doubt that there are more children whose fate remains unknown.”

Punch/Dupe Akinyooye