No fewer than 281 inmates, including jailed Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and others, have been confirmed to have escaped from the Maiduguri correctional facility following severe flooding that hit the state capital.
Seven of the inmates have been recaptured.
This is even as the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced on Sunday that seven inmates who fled during the incident have been successfully recaptured after a section of the facility’s perimeter fence was damaged by the flood.
A statement from the service public relations officer, Umar Abubakar, confirmed the recapture as part of a review process.
The service also released comprehensive details, including biometric data, of the remaining escapees and added that efforts to locate and return them to custody are being intensified.
Umar disclosed that in a swift response, correctional officers and various security agencies quickly relocated the remaining inmates to a secured facility on the federal government’s orders.
He assured the public that efforts were underway to recapture all the escaped inmates.
“As of now, seven out of the 281 escaped inmates have been successfully recaptured. Search operations, both covert and overt, are ongoing, with multiple security agencies collaborating to ensure all escapees are returned to custody,” Umar stated.
The service emphasised that the incident does not threaten public safety, and measures are being intensified to manage the situation effectively.
The collapse of the Alau Dam on Tuesday led to severe flooding in the state, marking the worst such event in three decades.
The dam had reached total capacity before the incident, resulting in significant damage and disruption to the surrounding areas. Emergency response and recovery efforts are still underway to address the flooding’s impact.
