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.

Sidika Nasiru, ICRC protection data officer, disclosed this in an interview in Maiduguri.

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

The ICRC official explained that the tracing programme run on FRCN (Peace FM Maiduguri) involves repeated announcements of missing persons’ names with few details for possible identification.

“With the radio, we hope to get wider reach to areas we cannot access due to security challenges in reuniting families. The name listing programme is on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., and it is repeated by 3:00 p.m. in the Kanuri language the same day,” Ms Nasiru explained.

She added, “On Thursdays, the time is 10:30 a.m. and a repeat broadcast by 3:00 p.m. in the Hausa language.”

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

Ms Nasiru said the public could call the toll-free number: 08005004000 for information relating to the programme.

The ICRC has united 150 families.

(NAN)