Over 200 Inmates Escape Nigerian Prison After Heavy Flooding Causes Major Breach

Photo : AFP

Heavy flooding in Nigeria’s Borno state has led to a major prison break, with at least 281 inmates escaping from the Medium Security Custodial Center (MSCC) in Maiduguri, according to a statement released by the Nigerian Correctional Service on Sunday. The facility’s walls were brought down by the intense floods, which also destroyed staff quarters in the area.

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Spokesman Abubakar Umar detailed that the prisoners were in the process of being transferred to a safer location when the breach occurred. Of the escapees, seven were recaptured shortly after their breakout. Umar assured the public that the correctional service had the full identities and biometrics of all those who fled, and efforts were underway to locate and return them to custody.

The prison escape is part of a broader crisis caused by weeks of heavy flooding across Nigeria, which has claimed the lives of at least 229 people and displaced more than 386,000.

Northern Nigeria, including Borno state, has been particularly hard-hit by the floods. Earlier warnings about rising water levels were issued, urging states to stay alert. Unfortunately, the devastation has only worsened over time.

Nigeria is increasingly facing the impacts of climate change, and extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall are expected to become more frequent and severe across the continent. The current flooding crisis in Nigeria is a stark example of how climate change is exacerbating environmental disasters, causing widespread destruction.

In addition to the prison break, the floods have led to other serious consequences. Earlier this week, floodwaters from an overflowing dam in northern Nigeria inundated a zoo, resulting in the escape of animals, including crocodiles and snakes, into nearby communities, raising safety concerns for local residents.

As Nigerian authorities continue their efforts to recapture the escaped inmates, the country remains in the grip of a severe environmental and humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing floods.

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