274 Inmates Escape After Maiduguri Prison Wall Collapses Due To Floods – NCoS

274 Inmates Escape After Maiduguri Prison Wall Collapses Due To Floods – NCoS

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reported that 274 inmates are unaccounted for following the collapse of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Maiduguri, Borno State, due to severe flooding.

According to a statement released on Sunday by NCoS spokesman Umar Abubakar, the floods were triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam after heavy rainfall. The incident has caused widespread devastation, displacing over a million residents and claiming at least 30 lives.

This flood, the worst in 30 years for the region, has led to significant damage to infrastructure and homes across Maiduguri. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is currently conducting rescue operations, having already saved over 400 people from the rising waters.

The flood has also raised serious concerns about public safety, with some residents relying on canoes to evacuate flooded streets. Efforts to locate the missing inmates are ongoing, as the NCoS works alongside other security agencies to address the situation.

“The flood breached the walls of the correctional facility, including the MSCC and nearby staff quarters. Upon evacuating inmates to a safer location, it was discovered that 281 were missing,” Abubakar said.

He added that seven inmates had been recaptured, and efforts are underway to find the remaining escapees. The authorities have detailed records and biometrics of all the missing inmates to assist in the search.

Abubakar assured the public that security measures are in place and that the situation does not pose an immediate risk to public safety.