At least 118 inmates escaped from prison after heavy rains on Wednesday night damaged the facility in Suleja near the Nigerian capital, a prison service spokesperson said.
The downpour, which last several hours, wrecked parts of the medium-security prison, including the perimeter wall and surrounding buildings, spokesperson Adamu Duza said in a statement on Thursday.
Service agents were hunting the fugitives and had so far recaptured 10 of them with the help of other security agencies.
“We are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” Duza said.
He assured the public the authorities were on top of the situation.
“The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” he said.
Duza gave no details on the identities or affiliation of the escaped prisoners but in the past members of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgent group have been locked up in Suleja prison.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!