Anambra State Committee on Bureau of Missing Persons has vowed to tacktically handle cases of missing persons due to a number of armed conflicts in Nigeria as official data estimates between 23,000 and 25,000 persons currently missing in the country.
Members of the Committee made this assertion during their inaugural meeting that was held at the Ministry of Justice Conference Hall, Awka, Anambra State,with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Chika Ifemeje as their Chairperson of the committee.
The Bureau was charged with the mandate to trace cases of missing persons and come up with the needed database to support police investigations and eventual prosecution of suspects.
According to the Commissioner and Attorney General of the State, this data could be higher as a result of absence of official database, and explained the need to develop a database of missing persons to be handled by the Planning, Research and Statistics officer in the State Ministry of Justice and collaborate with security agencies in intensive investigation to retracing missing persons.
Forensic facility
The Bureau Chairperson said that the state has approved the establishment of a forensic facility that would help to pin suspects to the scene of a crime, explaining that the bureau would also provide legal and moral assistance to affected facilities and relations of missing persons.
The Commissioner urged the head of DDP in the ministry, Barrister Nkiru Jessie Nwankwo to set up a platform where all the mandate of the Bureau of Missing Persons will be enlisted.
Circumstances
He said the bureau of missing persons has been mandated to document the particulars of a missing person and keep the database of missing persons in the state, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of missing person and do everything necessary to locate such person.
“The ministry of justice shall commerce criminal prosecution where a prime official case has been made out against a suspect and to provide a model for the state to be more resident against cases of violence and crises.”
Barrister Jessie appreciated the Chairman, Truth, Justice and Peace Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu for being the brainchild for the establishment of the Bureau.
She then requested Professor Odinakalu to use his contacts with the International Commission of Missing Persons to assist Anambra State in the areas of capacity building for the bureau and sharing of best practices.
This,she said would aid the Anambra Bureau of Missing Persons, serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
Professor Odinkalu said that the meeting was significant to enable the state to afford closure and assistance to families of missing persons.
He urged the Bureau members to see the job as opportunity to serve the public and invitation to greatness, and never to be discouraged in the midst of challenges while performing the task.
The membership of the Bureau drew representatives from 12 Ministries, Departments, Agencies and groups
A representative of Civil Society Organization, Mrs Hope Okoye and a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Izu Umeju, provided ideas that would yield an efficient and productive result of the committee.
Lateefah Ibrahim
