No fewer than 6,675 inmates, including high-profile Boko Haram terrorists and murderers, have escaped in 13 separate jailbreaks that hit Nigerian custodial centres in the last five years.
2,032 (30.4 per cent) of the escapees have been recaptured by security operatives, while 4,643 (69.5 per cent) remain at large.
The latest jailbreak occurred on Tuesday in Borno State, where 280 inmates escaped from the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre following severe flooding in the capital city.
The inmates fled after a portion of the perimeter fence of the facility was pulled down by the flood.
An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that some Boko Haram commanders held in the facility escaped.
“The rain was torrential and caused a terrible flood which affected our facility. Part of the wall of the Maiduguri New Prison collapsed, and some Boko Haram commanders escaped with other prisoners,” the source stated.
Another source told said that the prison was undergoing an upgrade when the incident occurred.
He said, “The prison is one of those old facilities constructed in the 90s, which was why it collapsed easily. When such a thing happens, everybody wants to flee for their lives, and that was what happened.”
Addressing the press after assessing the damage to the facility in the Abbaganaram area of the city, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed that the flood affected the prison walls. He did not comment on the escapee inmates.
He said, “In terms of our facility at the correctional centre, actions are already ongoing. There are certain details I cannot disclose for security reasons, but rest assured, we are on top of the situation.”
However, a statement by the Nigerian Correctional Service spokesman, Umar Abubakar, assured the public that the service was working with sister security agencies to take necessary measures to ensure public safety.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Pidgin service) on Thursday, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, expressed worry that some Boko Haram leaders might have escaped from the prison.
“I’m worried, yes, I’m seriously worried. But you also have to bear in mind that the Borno State Government has established what we call the Borno Model of Rehabilitation which has allowed many insurgents to repent. Within the last two years, over 200,000 Boko Haram members and their families have repented and, I think, this has also yielded positive results in ensuring return of peace and stability to Borno State,” the governor stated.
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