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Families of Missing Persons exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and support each other in an international conference

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Families of Missing Persons exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and support each other in an international conference

By: Michael Mike

Families of Missing Persons from Nigeria participated in the 3rd edition of the International Conference for Families of Missing Persons, which took place between 21-23 November 2023.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) hosted two conference hubs in Nigeria, in Maiduguri (Borno State) and Yola (Adamawa State) respectively, where families attended online global and regional peer-to-peer sessions and were granted opportunities to meet and exchange with other families from around the world whose loved ones went missing in similar circumstances.

Families gained inspiration on how they can continue to build and strengthen their family associations. Beyond supporting one another, family associations usually are those that raise awareness and advocate on the issue of the missing.

Engaging with peers brought useful insights on how families can be more strongly seen and heard by their peers, communities, and authorities. Families shared what it means to each of them to live while searching, and how to cope with the emotional, legal, economic, and social challenges, particularly when having a missing relative during an ongoing armed conflict.

“I still have hopes that my loved one will be found someday, and we will meet again,” said Sadiya Abubakar a member of the Family Association in Damare internally displaced community. “With the experiences shared in the conference I discovered that we are not alone on facing the pains of not knowing the fate of our family members who have been missing for long”.

The families also got the chance to meet with member states to the Global Alliance for the Missing, which Nigeria is member to. The Global Alliance for the missing is a group of states that has committed to raise awareness on the issue of missing persons and to collectively engage diplomatically on the issue.

A family member from Nigeria, the only member state from Africa, made a statement on behalf of the African continent, outlying the importance for other African States to join the Alliance. The statement urged states to work together to facilitate search and address the needs of families, adopt legislations on the missing persons and include the families in the process to ensure belonging, ownership, transparency, and accountability by ensuring access to information on how and where families can engage with authorities on the issue of the missing.

The conference brought together more than 700 families of missing persons from 50 different countries, in a hybrid format. Families physically gathered in 44 local “conference hubs” and joined multilingual online sessions tackling the most critical challenges they face around the world.
“The conference was an opportunity for families to gain the understanding that they are stronger together,” said Anne-Sofie Stockman, ICRC`s delegate in charge of searching for the Missing.

“Families continue to show extraordinary will to never give up searching for their loved ones, however long it takes.”
The ICRC works together with the Nigerian Red Cross Society to help and support families of the missing in their pursuit for answers. So far this year, we’ve been able to help locate more than 460 people missing due to the conflict.

Families of Missing Persons exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and support each other in an international conference

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Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

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Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits on Wednesday ambushed a military Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in Yadi forest, near Machika village in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing one soldier and critically injuring two others.

It was gathered that the APC had developed a mechanical fault while on patrol before it was attacked at about 2:32 p.m.

Sources said hat the heavily armed bandits seized the opportunity to launch a coordinated assault on the stranded vehicle.

“In the course of the attack, one soldier was fatally shot while two others sustained life-threatening injuries. The injured personnel were immediately evacuated for medical attention,” the report noted.

Following the incident, a Nigerian Air Force fighter jet was deployed to the area for aerial support, while troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA cordoned off the forest in search of the attackers.

Security operations in the area are ongoing to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of the deadly ambush.

Soldier killed, two injured as bandits ambush military vehicle in Katsina

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Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

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Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

By: Zagazola Makama

The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a 22-year-old man by a mob in Kumo, Akko Local Government Area, over allegations of motorcycle theft.

Sources said the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, when the victim, identified as Daudu Ahmed of Sarkin Yaki Quarters, was attacked with machetes to the head and stomach by a group of youths accusing him of being a serial motorcycle thief.

The matter was reported to the Akko Divisional Police Station by the victim’s elder brother, Dahiru Ahmed, at about 10:15 a.m.

The Divisional Police Officer and his team responded swiftly and rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Kumo, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Four suspects were identified and two Babayo Musa and Zaidu Sani both of Jauro Musa Quarters were arrested. The others, identified only as Sulaiman and Usama, remain at large alongside other fleeing suspects.

During interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly confessed that the deceased had been involved in motorcycle snatching and was a known threat in the area. Machetes used in the attack were recovered as evidence.

Sources said that case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Mob kills suspected motorcycle thief in Gombe, police arrest four

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Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

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Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed men have abducted two residents and injured another during an attack on Baba Ramo Fulani Camp near Isanlu Isin in Kwara State, the police have confirmed.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, when the gunmen stormed the camp, shooting sporadically before whisking away two men identified as Ibrahim Nuhu and Musa Umar.

Sources said during the attack, one Opeyemi Ibrahim sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh and was rushed to Adeyemi Hospital in Omu-Aran for urgent medical attention.

Following the incident, local hunters and vigilantes immediately launched a bush combing operation in an attempt to rescue the abductees.

During the search, the team recovered eight empty AK-47 bullet shells, a severed human thumb, a flashlight, and a blue Bajaj motorcycle with registration number KMA 185 VD. About 50 cows believed to have been abandoned by the attackers were also recovered.

All recovered items have been handed over to the police, and an investigation is currently ongoing to track down the abductors and secure the release of the victims.

Gunmen abduct two in Kwara Fulani camp, injure one

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