Flooding In Nigeria Leads To Mass Prison Escape, 274 Inmates At Large

Heavy flooding in Borno State, Nigeria, has resulted in the escape of at least 274 inmates from a local prison, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service. The flood caused significant damage to the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Center (MSCC) and adjacent staff quarters, destroying the prison walls and facilitating the inmates’ escape.

Abubakar Umar, a spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service, reported that while 281 inmates fled, seven have since been recaptured. The service has identified the escapees and made their details, including biometrics, available to the public in an ongoing search effort.

The flooding, which has ravaged northern Nigeria, has claimed 229 lives and displaced over 386,000 people, as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Borno State, situated in the northeast, is among the hardest-hit areas.

Earlier warnings from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had highlighted rising water levels in the Niger River, urging states to prepare for potential flooding. As climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme rainfall events across Africa, the impact of these floods is expected to persist.

In another incident, floodwaters from an overflowing dam in northern Nigeria inundated a zoo, leading to the escape of several dangerous animals, including crocodiles and snakes, into nearby communities.