{
  "id": 8382870,
  "title": "Boko Haram: Over 17,000 people still missing in North-East – ICRC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/boko-haram-over-17-000-people-still-missing-in-north-east-icrc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T04:18:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/boko-haram-over-17000-people-still-missing-in-north-east-icrc/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has disclosed that over 17,000 individuals displaced by Boko Haram terrorist activities in the North-East region of Nigeria are still missing. This figure was initially reported as 24,000 but was reduced as the ICRC lost contact with some affected families. The spokesperson for the ICRC, Aliyu Dawobe, revealed this during a 2-day training for journalists on humanitarian reporting in Lagos. Dawobe emphasized that the ICRC is actively working towards locating the missing individuals and reuniting them with their families.\n\nThe conflict in the North-East has persisted for more than 16 years, leaving millions of people in dire need of food and causing widespread malnutrition among children, with over 3 million affected. Many people have been separated from their loved ones for a decade or more, and numerous individuals have been forced to endure displacement within the region. Dawobe stressed the crucial role the media plays in informing the public about the dire circumstances of those affected by the conflict. He highlighted that the training for journalists aims to enhance their skills in humanitarian reporting, encouraging them to focus on the suffering of the affected individuals and report human-interest stories that can alleviate their pain. The ICRC is seeking media coverage that highlights the human angle of the crisis, focusing on the plight of those impacted by armed conflicts and the trauma they endure.\n\nDawobe selected 50 journalists for the training, urging them to make the most of the opportunity to improve their reporting techniques. Dr. Bala Muhammad, a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano, also attended the training. He stressed the importance of journalists updating themselves on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to shift their reporting focus towards alleviating the sufferings of conflict victims. Dr. Muhammad believed that placing the victims at the center of stories is paramount, as human-interest stories hold the greatest significance in triggering positive change.",
  "summary": "Over 17,000 people displaced by the activities of Boko Haram terrorists across North-East, Nigeria are still missing, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has revealed. The ICRC spokesperson, Aliyu Dawobe, disclosed this in Lagos at the end of a 2-day training for journalists on humanitarian reporting. Dawobe said the figure was initially over […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}