News
Families of Missing Persons exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and support each other in an international conference
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
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 1 under Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued two kidnapped victims in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 3:50 a.m. on April 15 when troops deployed at Kyado responded to a distress call on kidnapping activities in the area.
According to the sources, the troops swiftly moved to the scene, prompting the kidnappers to abandon their victims and flee.
The sources added that the troops successfully rescued the two victims and reunited them with their families.
Security operations have been intensified in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent further incidents.
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have arrested the second-in-command to a notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Auta, alongside his wife in Gombe State following an intelligence-led tracking operation across multiple locations.
Sources said the suspects, identified as Bala, popularly known as “Pakapaka,” and his wife, Zulaha Bala, were intercepted after fleeing from Dajin Madam Forest in Plateau State.
According to the sources, the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence surveillance and coordinated ground tracking by security operatives targeting fleeing members of the criminal network.
The suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to determine their level of involvement in the group’s activities and possible connections with other cells operating within and outside the region.
In a related development, troops conducted follow-up patrols around Bayar village in the Duguri axis after intelligence indicated that the main bandit kingpin had fled into the area.
However, no contact was made during the search operation.
Security sources said troops have continued to dominate the general area with sustained patrols aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of movement and disrupting their operational networks across Plateau, Taraba, and adjoining states.
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops conducting ongoing clearance operations under Operation Wutan Daji have rescued 12 kidnapped victims and arrested key associates of a fleeing bandit leader during coordinated offensives across forested areas linking Plateau and Taraba States.
A military source said the operations, carried out on April 15 and 16, involved troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade in conjunction with an Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tactical team.
According to the source, the operations were conducted in the Dajin Madam and Kumbodoro forest axis, spanning parts of Plateau and Taraba States.
The source said the sustained offensive led to the recovery of 12 kidnapped victims who escaped from their captors during the pressure mounted by troops.
The victims were subsequently taken into custody for profiling before being moved to an Internally Displaced Persons facility in Fukuk.
Troops also recovered a Dane gun, a fabricated AK-47 rifle and a power bank during the operation.
Troops rescue 12 kidnapped victims, arrest kingpin’s aides in Plateau–Taraba forest operations
Troops rescue two kidnapped victims in Benue
Troops arrest suspected ammunition racketeer in Cross River
Troops arrest bandit kingpin’s Deputy, wife in Gombe following intelligence operation
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News12 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
