At least 281 inmates, including high-profile Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and others, have escaped from the Maiduguri correctional facility due to severe flooding in Borno State’s capital city.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced on Sunday that seven of the fleeing inmates have been successfully recaptured after the flood damaged a section of the facility’s perimeter fence.
Umar Abubakar, the NCoS public relations officer, confirmed the successful recapture as part of their review process. The Service also provided detailed biometric information about the remaining escapees and stated that efforts to locate and recapture them are being intensified.
Umar reported that, in response to the incident, correctional officers and various security agencies quickly relocated the remaining inmates to a secure facility at the federal government’s directive. He assured the public that measures are in place to recapture all escaped inmates.
“As of now, we have recaptured seven of the 281 escaped inmates. Search operations, both covert and overt, are ongoing, with multiple security agencies working together to ensure that all escapees are brought back into custody,” Umar stated.
The Service emphasized that this incident does not pose a threat to public safety and that measures are being strengthened to manage the situation effectively.
It is important to note that the collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State on Tuesday caused widespread flooding in the state capital and surrounding areas, marking the worst flooding event in three decades. The dam had been at full capacity before the incident, resulting in significant damage and disruption. Emergency response and recovery efforts are still ongoing to address the flooding’s impact.
