Thousands of people remain missing in northeastern Nigeria after years of conflict, leaving families searching for loved ones and hoping for answers.
For many families in Borno State, the uncertainty has lasted more than a decade.
Some relatives disappeared during attacks. Others went missing while travelling or fleeing violence.
According to an Al Jazeera report published on October 25, families continue searching hospitals, displacement camps and rehabilitation centres for information about their loved ones.
Despite years of effort, many still do not know whether their relatives are alive.
Nigerian families wait years for missing relatives
In Maiduguri, 39-year-old Kashim Mohammed has spent more than 15 years searching for his younger sister, Falmata Mohammed.
According to Al Jazeera, Falmata disappeared in 2011 while travelling with her mother from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt.
Kashim said unidentified gunmen abducted the two women.
Years later, a man approached him with information suggesting that Falmata had been found in Benin.
However, the man disappeared without providing contact details. Kashim could not confirm whether the information was accurate.
His father died without learning what had happened to his daughter.
Today, Kashim continues to hope for her safe return.
Conflict leaves families without answers
Another Maiduguri resident, Muhammad Alhaji Bashir, has also spent years searching for a missing family member.
His elder brother, Adam Muhammad Bashir, disappeared around 2012 or 2013.
At the time, Adam was studying civil engineering and selling cosmetics at a local market.
Muhammad told Al Jazeera that his family searched different locations in Maiduguri.
Whenever authorities brought rescued people to a rehabilitation centre in Bulumkutu, relatives visited with photographs of Adam.
However, they never found information confirming his whereabouts.
His parents later died without receiving answers.
Muhammad and other relatives continue their search.
Thousands reported missing across northern Nigeria
The disappearances reflect the lasting humanitarian impact of conflict in northeastern Nigeria.
Boko Haram launched its armed rebellion in 2009. Since then, years of violence have affected communities across the region.
Attacks, abductions and displacement have separated many families.
According to Al Jazeera, local advocates estimate that approximately 17,000 people remain missing across northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Kashim said records maintained by his community organisation indicate that around 10,000 people are missing in Borno State.
However, these estimates have not been independently verified. Their reporting periods and methods also remain unclear.
The figures therefore highlight the scale of concerns rather than a confirmed official count.
Community groups help families continue searching
Despite the challenges, local organisations are working to support affected families.
Kashim chairs the Association for the Well-being of Displaced and Missing Persons’ Families in Maiduguri.
He helped establish the organisation in 2023. According to his account, it received official registration in 2025.
Members meet regularly to share information about missing relatives.
The organisation also helps families facing financial difficulties.
Kashim said the group supports approximately 600 children who have lost parental care or family support.
Some children continue attending school. However, others face difficulties because their families cannot afford education and basic necessities.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nigerian Red Cross Society also support efforts to trace missing people and reconnect separated families.
These services can provide important assistance to relatives seeking information.
Floods make search efforts more difficult
In addition to conflict, natural disasters have created further challenges.
Severe flooding struck Maiduguri in 2024, damaging homes and destroying personal belongings.
According to Kashim, some families lost photographs of their missing relatives during the floods.
These photographs had helped them identify loved ones during searches.
Without them, families must rely on names, descriptions and other available information.
The loss of these records has made an already difficult process even more challenging.
Families continue hoping for reunions
For families across northeastern Nigeria, finding missing relatives remains a deeply personal priority.
Many have spent years searching without reliable information about what happened.
Community organisations and humanitarian agencies continue offering assistance. However, thousands of cases remain unresolved.
Efforts to trace missing people, protect civilians and reconnect families remain essential.
Meanwhile, relatives such as Kashim and Muhammad continue hoping that one day they will receive answers.
Their experiences highlight the lasting consequences of conflict and the importance of helping families learn the fate of their missing loved ones.