A devastating flood has facilitated the escape of over 200 inmates, including Boko Haram commanders, from the Maiduguri New Prison in Borno State.
The flood, which ravaged the city on Tuesday, caused a portion of the prison’s perimeter fence to collapse, enabling the prisoners to break free.
“The rain was torrential and caused terrible flood which affected our facility,” an official of the Nigerian Correctional Center in Maiduguri revealed. “Part of the wall of the Maiduguri New Prison collapsed and some Boko Haram commanders held in our facility have escaped with other prisoners. Those who escaped are more than 200 in all.”
The source added, “We were able to move 200 other inmates to a different facility.”
This disaster has raised concerns about the security measures in place at the prison facility.
The Borno State government had earlier assured that comprehensive preventive measures had been implemented to mitigate the flood situation, but the contrary has occurred.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, said, “We’re taking stock across the country. I can speak to the press two hours from now, so please call me in the next two hours.”
