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,leadership reports.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced on Sunday that seven of the escapees had been recaptured after part of the facility’s perimeter fence was damaged by the flood.
NCoS Public Relations Officer Umar Abubakar confirmed the recapture as part of an ongoing review. The Service also released detailed information, including biometric data, of the remaining escapees, and assured that efforts to track and return them to custody were being intensified.
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In response to the breach, correctional officers, alongside security agencies, swiftly relocated the remaining inmates to a more secure location on federal orders. Umar emphasized that efforts are ongoing to recapture all escapees, with multiple security agencies collaborating on search operations.
He also assured the public that the situation is under control and poses no immediate threat to public safety.
The incident followed the collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State on Tuesday, causing the worst flooding the area has seen in 30 years. The dam overflowed, resulting in significant damage to surrounding areas, with emergency response efforts still underway.
