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.
Reports shows that 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. Reports has emerged that no fewer than 4,643 Boko Haram and other notorious killers has escaped as a result several of jail break in the country in the last past five years.
jailbreak occurred on Tuesday following a severe flooding in the capital city of Maiduguri, the state capital of Borno State, where 280 inmates escaped from the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre.
it was gathered that the inmates fled after a portion of the perimeter fence of the correctional facility was pulled down by the heavy flood on Tuesday. An official of the correctional center who doesn’t want his name mention due to the sensitivity of the matter said many Boko horam and other killers held in the facility has fled
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 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.”
The Minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji – 0hio addressing the press after assessing the damage to the facility in the Abbaganaram area of the city, confirmed that the flood affected the prison wall and did not comment on the escapee inmates.
He declared, “Actions have already begun with regard to our facility within the correctional c facility. I am unable to share a few details due to security concerns, but rest assured that we are tracking the situation closely. \However, the public was reassured in a statement by Umar Abubakar, the spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service, that the agency was collaborating with sister security agencies to take the required steps to ensure public safety.
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, raised concerns that some Boko Haram leaders might have escaped from the prison in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Pidgin service) on Thursday.
On April 25, 2024, 119 inmates also escaped from the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. While security agencies recaptured 14, 105 others have remained at large for more than four months.
On January 2, 2022, three inmates escaped from the Mandala Custodial Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State. That same year, three inmates escaped from the Agbor prison in Delta State after heavy rainfall caused the northern perimeter wall to collapse on May 13.
On April 5, 2021, gunmen attacked the Owerri correctional facility in Imo State, leading to the escape of 1,844 inmates. While 980 of them were reportedly rearrested, 864 are still at large.
On July 8, 2021, four suspects awaiting trial for kidnapping and armed robbery escaped from the Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State, while on September 13, gunmen attacked the Kabba Correctional Centre in Kogi State, freeing 240 inmates. Security operatives later rearrested 114, leaving 126 at large.
Similarly, on October 22, a total of 837 inmates escaped from the Abolongo Medium Security Custodial Centre in Oyo State. While 262 were recaptured, 575 are still on the run.
Also, on November 28, gunmen invaded the Jos Correctional Centre again, freeing 262 inmates. Only 10 were captured, while 252 remain at large.
On October 19, 2020, approximately 1,993 inmates escaped from Benin and Oko jails in Edo State. Only 207 were recaptured, while 1,786 are still unaccounted for.
During the #EndSARS protests on October 22, 58 inmates escaped from the prison facility in Okitipupa, Ondo State, during an attack on the facility by hoodlums.
On October 28, 122 inmates fled the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall. Twenty-five of them were recaptured, while 97 are still at large.
In May, Senate President Godswill Akpabio lamented that jailbreaks had become frequent since the Federal Government changed the Nigeria Prisons Service to the Nigeria Correctional Service.
When our correspondent reached out to the NCoS spokesman on Thursday to react to the increasing number of escapee inmates, he was not available.
In a Thursday interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Piggin service, Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno State, voiced concerns about the possibility that some Boko Haram leaders might have escaped out of the prison. Yes, in fact, I am very worried. However, you should also keep in mind that the Borno State Government established the Borno Model of Rehabilitation, which has made it possible for a large number of insurgents to turn to God.
Over 200,000 Boko Haram members and their families have shown regret in the last two years, and the governor said, “I believe this has also produced positive results in ensuring the return of peace and stability to Borno State.”
However, security experts said the increasing number of escaped inmates migh be responsible for the spike in terror attacks, kidnappings, and killings across the country.
The Deputy President of the Institute of Security Nigeria, Adebayo Akinade, said last Tuesday’s jailbreak caused by flooding was unfortunate, it would worsen criminality in the country.
