June 1, 2023

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unveiled a radio tracing programme in Borno to reunite 3,000 missing persons with loved ones.

Ms. Sidika Nasiru, the Protection Data Analytics Officer, ICRC Maiduguri, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Nasiru said no fewer than 24,000 people including children are separated from their relations nationwide due to conflicts with about 16,000 from Borno alone due to insurgency.

She said that the tracing programme being run on FRCN (Peace FM Maiduguri) involves repeated announcements of the names of missing persons with few details about them for possible identification.

“With the radio we hope to get wider reach to areas we cannot access due to security challenge in reuniting families.

“The name listing programme is on Tuesdays at 10 am and it is repeated by 3 pm in Kanuri language same day.

“While on Thursdays the time is 10.30am and a repeat broadcast by 3pm in Hausa Language,” Nasiru said.

She urged for public support in making the new programme a success.

Nasiru said the public can call the tool free number: 08005004000 for information relating to the programme.

She said that other approaches so far used by the ICRC reunited 150 children with their families. (NAN)