Borno Jailbreak: 278 Convicts Still Missing Two Months After Flooding Incident

Two months after severe flooding damaged the Borno State correctional facility on September 10, 278 inmates are still missing.

Naija News previously reported that the flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital, had destroyed critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and the medium-security custodial center, leading to the escape of 281 inmates.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the situation: “The flood brought down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial centre, Maiduguri, as well as the staff quarters in the city.

“Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service, with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.”

Since the incident, the Borno State Police Command has managed to recapture three of the escapees. Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, identified them as Auwalu Aminu, Abubakar Mohammed, and Kyari Kur.

Daso provided further details, stating, “Kur was apprehended on October 10 after police at Gubio Divisional Headquarters received credible intelligence about his whereabouts. Daso said that the police acted swiftly and arrested him in Gubio town.”

In another statement, Daso said, “The rearrest of Muhammed was facilitated when on September 15, 2024, at about 1500HRS, a resident of Bulakara Ward, Gubio LGA, alerted the police after sighting Abubakar in Gubio town, following his escape from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri. Following a swift response by a police patrol team, the escaped convict was apprehended.”

The latest re-arrest occurred on October 16, when police from Bama Area Command and Banki Divisional Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, apprehended Aminu in Banki.

During an interview with The PUNCH in Maiduguri on Monday, Daso confirmed that search operations remain active, with police determined to locate the remaining escapees.

Daso also confirmed that the re-arrested convicts have been returned to the custody of the correctional service.

“Efforts are still ongoing to arrest the other fleeing suspects, and we will ensure that we will keep on highlighting to the public our breakthroughs and achievements.

“Not less than four suspects have been re-arrested so far and handed over to the correctional service,” he confirmed.