The National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria says it has launched a Register for missing persons in Nigeria in line with its mandate of protecting the rights of citizens and foreigners living in the country.
The inauguration of the missing persons Register in the country is beginning with a pilot project in Borno state which is the epicentre of insurgency with the attendant human rights and humanitarian issues, including enforced disappearance and kidnapping among other challenges.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who stated this at a Public Lecture organised by the NHRC and CLEEN Foundation to commemorate the 2021 International Day of the missing, observed on 30th of August annually remarked that; “This day gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the number of persons who go missing on account of armed conflict or related violence, natural disasters, migration, abduction or kidnapping, trafficking, accidents, detention, crimes or any other situation”.
The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria said maintaining a Register of missing persons in Nigeria is devoid of discrimination and in line with the mandate of the Commission for protecting the rights of every citizen and other nationals resident in the country, pointing out that the same is provided by relevant laws in the country.
According to the NHRC Boss, “the Commission had embarked on widespread advocacy in the state to sensitise relevant agencies and bodies on the project, stating that affected persons, families and communities are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to address their anxieties, hoping for a favourable result”
“Effective today, jingles on the project will be aired in Hausa and Kanuri, in local radio stations in the state and members of our staff in Borno state office are ready for the work”, the Executive Secretary added.
On the purpose of the project, Mr. Ojukwu said that the project hopes to raise awareness on the missing people in Nigeria and plights of their families, ensure that authorities acknowledge the missing and the rights of their families.
In her speech, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen expressed the commitment of the Nigerian government towards protecting the rights of the disappeared and their families, saying that such cases have always come with serious trauma and that protecting the rights of victims and their families will bring succour to all affected families and communities.
According to the Minister, the trauma experienced by the disappeared and their family members cannot be explained and to address the issue, all hands must be on deck to clarify the situation of the disappeared and give hope to their families.
She also commended the theme of this year’s observance, “Commemorating their lives: Taking Stock and Charting New Directions in the Search for the Missing“, saying that it reminds every one of the joint responsibility of working towards bringing closure to the lingering traumatic experience of having ones loved ones declared missing for a long while.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Dr. Benson Olugbuo expressed concern about the 22,000 reported cases of missing persons, being the highest in Africa, saying that Nigeria and indeed the entire African continent should rise up to the occasion.
Highlight of the Commemoration was a Public Lecture delivered by. Retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi who brought different perspectives of the issues of the missing as it affects the continent of Africa and the need to work assiduously to bring hope and succor to victims and their families.
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