281 Inmates Flee Borno Prison After Walls Collapse Due To Maiduguri Floods

At least 281 inmates have escaped from a prison in Borno state during Maiduguri flooding, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed Sunday.

NCoS spokesperson Abubakar Umar said the flood destroyed the walls of the correctional facilities, including the Medium Security Custodial Center Maiduguri (MSCC) and the staff quarters.

"As the agency responsible for inmate safekeeping, we are taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety, including evacuating inmates to safer facilities, ensuring smooth operations, and collaborating with sister security agencies to provide support and assistance to those affected," Umar said, Premium Times reported.

"Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing. However, it is important to note that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics, which is being made available to the public."

He further noted that the Nigerian Correctional Service was working with other security agencies to search for the escaped inmates, adding that both undercover and visible efforts have been put in place to find them.

So far, seven inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, and efforts continue to track down the others. The people were assured that this situation does not affect overall public safety.

The photos of missing inmates has been shared on social media:

The flood in Maiduguri has resulted in at least 37 deaths and displaced about half a million people. Many people were seen in the streets with no place to go, while some were resting under trees with their families.

The flooding happened just a few days after the Federal Government had predicted heavy rainfall and potential flooding from Sept. 4 to Sept. 8 in 21 states and 123 locations, before urging everyone to take precautions.

Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Barkindo Mohammed last week said that the situation in flooded Maiduguri was "terrible," after water from the Alau Dam, collapsed and flooded many parts of the town.

Even last month, Nigerians in Jigawa State experienced flooding, which resulted in 28 deaths and the displacement of many residents.