ECOWAS, Nigerian Government Urged to Tackle Rising Cases of Enforced Disappearances in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian government have been urged to take stronger action against enforced disappearances in the region.

The call coincided with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, observed annually on August 30 under United Nations Resolution 65/209.

Enforced disappearances, once linked mainly to military regimes, have become more frequent under democratic governments, involving state and non-state actors including extremist groups, militias, and organized criminal networks.

The United Nations defines such acts, when widespread or systematic, as crimes against humanity.

Prof. Chris Kwaja, Professor of International Relations at Modibbo Adama University, Yola, outlined measures for governments and ECOWAS, including:

• criminalizing enforced disappearances under national and regional law,

• prosecuting perpetrators,

• providing psychosocial support for victims’ families,

• creating transitional justice mechanisms, and

• establishing national registers to document cases.

Victims and their families often face multiple human rights violations, including the denial of liberty, security, fair trial rights, and even the right to life. The lack of identity records and judicial recourse further deepens the trauma for affected families, who continue to demand accountability and truth.

Professor Kwaja, a former member of the UN Working Group on Mercenaries, said addressing enforced disappearances is critical for accountability and regional stability.

“Addressing this challenge is essential not only for justice but also for restoring trust in governance and averting future occurrences,” he said.

As West Africa continues to grapple with insecurity, experts warn that the failure to address enforced disappearances risks deepening mistrust, fueling conflict, and undermining human rights across the region.