Two months after severe flooding damaged the Borno State correctional facility, 278 inmates remain missing.
Naijawebinfo previously reported that the September 10 flooding in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, destroyed critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and the medium-security custodial center, resulting in the escape of 281 inmates.
The Nigeria Correctional Service confirmed the situation: “The flood caused significant damage to our facilities, including the medium-security custodial center and staff quarters in Maiduguri.” Upon evacuating the inmates, officers found 281 were 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 revealed that Kur was apprehended on October 10 after police received credible intelligence about his whereabouts in Gubio town. The police acted swiftly to arrest him.
In another statement, Daso said that the rearrest of Mohammed was facilitated when a resident of Bulakara Ward, Gubio LGA, alerted the police after sighting him in Gubio town. The police responded quickly and apprehended him.
The latest re-arrest occurred on October 16, when police from Bama Area Command and Banki Divisional Headquarters apprehended Aminu in Banki.
In an interview with The PUNCH in Maiduguri, Daso confirmed that search operations are ongoing, 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.
The police will continue to provide updates on their progress and achievements. So far, at least four suspects have been re-arrested and handed over to the correctional service.
