Seven out of 281 inmates who escaped from the correctional center in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have been recaptured.
According to reports the development followed the severe flooding that damaged both public and private facilities in Maiduguri and some other parts of the state.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, while confirming the number of escaped inmates on Sunday, revealed that about seven of them have so far been recaptured and returned to custody.
The statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Umar Abubakar, said the flooding which occurred on Tuesday, brought down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial centre Maiduguri, MSCC and the staff quarters in the city.
Abubakar noted that upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the Service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, it was observed that 281 inmates were missing.
He, however, said that the Service is in custody of the details of the escapees including their biometrics, stressing that it is being made available to the public.
The pictures of the fleeing prisoners was also circulated on Sunday.
“The Service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them.
“Presently, a total of seven (7) inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody.
“WHILE THIS EFFORT IS ON, THE PUBLIC IS ASSURED THAT THE INCIDENT DOES NOT IMPEDE OR AFFECT PUBLIC SAFETY”, THE STATEMENT ADDED
The recent flooding in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has led to a significant and troubling incident involving the escape of inmates from a correctional facility. Out of 281 inmates who managed to break free from the medium-security custodial center in Maiduguri (MSCC), only seven have so far been recaptured.
The incident occurred after a devastating flood swept through the city on Tuesday, severely damaging both public and private infrastructure. Maiduguri, like many parts of the state, was hit by the flood, which breached the walls of several key facilities, including the MSCC and the staff quarters. The unprecedented deluge, which has been attributed to heavy and unrelenting rains, caused the structural integrity of these facilities to give way, allowing for the escape of a large number of inmates. In the chaos that ensued, 281 prisoners managed to flee the correctional center, raising immediate concerns about the whereabouts and potential threat posed by these individuals.
Following the event, the Nigerian Correctional Service swiftly issued a statement through its Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar. In the statement, Abubakar confirmed the number of escapees and provided reassurances that efforts were underway to bring the situation under control. He stated that seven of the escaped inmates had already been recaptured and returned to custody. While this number is encouraging, it highlights the challenge of tracking down the remaining 274 inmates who are still at large.
Abubakar provided further details about the incident, explaining how the floodwaters compromised the integrity of the correctional facility’s walls, making it easy for the inmates to escape. The flooding also affected the staff quarters, meaning that not only were the inmates put at risk, but the facility’s staff and their families were also impacted. To prevent further chaos, officers of the Correctional Service, with the support of other security agencies, took swift action to evacuate the remaining inmates to a safer and more secure facility. However, it was during this evacuation that the scale of the breakout became apparent.
Upon conducting a headcount after the evacuation, it was discovered that 281 inmates were unaccounted for. This alarming figure set off a flurry of activity within the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies. One of the immediate responses was to issue a public alert regarding the missing inmates. The authorities have since made the details of the escapees available, including their biometric data, and they have circulated pictures of the fleeing prisoners to the public in an effort to solicit assistance in their recapture.
The Nigerian Correctional Service is working closely with other security agencies to ensure the swift return of the escaped inmates. According to Abubakar, both covert and overt operations have been activated to track down the fugitives. The cooperation between security forces is essential in ensuring that the inmates are recaptured as quickly as possible, particularly because of the potential risks they pose to public safety. This collaboration between different arms of the security apparatus is aimed at ensuring that no stone is left unturned in the search for the escaped prisoners.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has emphasized the need for public cooperation, urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of the escapees to come forward. Given the scope of the flooding and the chaos it has caused, there is a real possibility that some of the escaped inmates may have left Maiduguri and sought refuge in other parts of the state, or even beyond. This makes the task of locating them even more complex.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has assured the public that the incident does not pose an immediate threat to public safety, but the escape of such a large number of inmates will undoubtedly cause concern among residents of Maiduguri and surrounding areas. While the authorities are working hard to bring the situation under control, the public is understandably on edge, particularly given the security challenges already facing the region. Borno State has been at the center of Nigeria’s fight against insurgency, and the escape of 281 inmates, some of whom may have ties to criminal organizations, adds another layer of complexity to the security landscape.
As efforts continue to recapture the remaining inmates, the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies are urging the public to remain calm and vigilant. The Service has reiterated that it is working around the clock to ensure that the escaped inmates are found and returned to custody. In the meantime, it has reassured the public that measures have been put in place to prevent any further security breaches and that the safety of the public remains a top priority.
The flooding in Maiduguri and the subsequent escape of inmates from the correctional facility have again exposed critical vulnerabilities in the region’s infrastructure.
While efforts to recapture the inmates are ongoing, the incident has raised important questions about the state of Nigeria’s correctional facilities and their ability to withstand natural disasters.
