278 escaped inmates from the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre remain unaccounted for two months after severe flooding in Borno State led to a jailbreak.
The September 10 floods in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, caused extensive damage, destroying critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and the correctional facility.
The floods breached the prison’s walls, leading to the escape of 281 inmates.
Abubakar Umar, spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, confirmed the escape, explaining, “The flood brought down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial centre in Maiduguri, as well as the staff quarters in the city.”
He added, “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.”
Following the jailbreak, the state police command has managed to re-arrest four escapees.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, identified three of the recaptured inmates as Auwalu Aminu, Abubakar Mohammed, and Kyari Kur.
One police statement detailed Kur’s capture on October 10 in Gubio town, where he was located following a tip.
In another instance, officers apprehended Abubakar Mohammed on September 15, after residents in Bulakara Ward, Gubio Local Government Area, reported his whereabouts.
Another successful operation led to the capture of Aminu on October 16 in Banki town by officers from Bama Area Command and Banki Divisional Headquarters.
Daso confirmed that intensive search operations remain ongoing.
“Efforts are still ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects, and we will ensure that we will keep on highlighting to the public our breakthroughs and achievements,” he stated.
The re-arrested convicts have since been handed over to the correctional service, Daso confirmed, assuring the public that security agencies are fully committed to tracking down the remaining escapees.
