Facts are beginning to emerge following an alleged flood-induced prison break on Tuesday that saw more than 400 inmates escape after flood waters breached the walls of a correctional facility in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.
Amid the confusion caused by the devastating floods, unverified reports suggested that prison officials fired shots in an attempt to prevent a mass escape, as a major perimeter wall of the New Prison Maiduguri collapsed under the rising waters.
The Nigeria Correctional Service in Borno State denied any such incident, claiming that all inmates were safely relocated to a sister maximum security facility following the wall’s collapse. However, credible sources within the NCS in Maiduguri, who spoke to HumAngle on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that many inmates did manage to escape and remain unaccounted for.
“When the back perimeter fence fell due to the flood, chaos ensued as inmates rushed to escape through the rising waters. Guns were fired to deter some, but approximately 400 have reportedly fled and are currently missing,” the source said. They also noted that some inmates sustained gunshot wounds in their legs as armed officials tried to maintain order.
The situation prompted a visit from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who led a delegation of top ministry officials and the Chief of the NCS to assess the damage at the correctional facility in the Abbaganaram area of Maiduguri.
Speaking to the press after the visit, the minister confirmed that the flood affected the prison walls but refrained from commenting on the escape.
“In terms of our facility at the Correctional Center, actions are already ongoing. There are certain details I cannot disclose for security reasons, but rest assured, we are on top of the situation,” he stated while downplaying the prison incident as a “minor issue” compared to the broader impact of the floods on the people of Borno.
When pressed about reports of gunfire at the correctional facility, the minister insisted, “Nobody was shot. This is a security matter, and we are in control of the situation. However, we cannot disclose further details at this time.”
He acknowledged the gravity of the situation for the people of Borno, assuring them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to providing support.
“We will step up our efforts and bring relief to the people of Borno State,” he added.
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