…UN team seeks support for Maiduguri flood victims
Two hundred and eighty-one inmates are reported missing from the Maiduguri Correctional Centre in the Borno State capital, in the wake of floods wreaking havoc in the state since last week.
Seven of the inmates have however been recaptured, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed..
The NCoS said it confirmed the missing inmates after the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility.
“As the agency responsible for inmate safekeeping, we are taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety, including evacuating inmates to safer facilities, ensuring smooth operations, and collaborating with sister security agencies to provide support and assistance to those affected,” Abubakar Umar, the NCoS spokesperson, said in a Tuesday statement.
However, on Sunday, Mr Umar confirmed that 281 inmates were missing and that seven others had been “recaptured.”
Mr Umar said that the service had the details of the missing inmates, including their biometrics.
“The flood brought down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial centre Maiduguri (MSCC) as well as the staff quarters in the city,” he wrote.
“Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.
“However, it is important to note that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics, which is being made available to the public.
“The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them.
“Presently, a total of seven (7) inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody.
“While this effort is on, the public is assured that the incidence does not impede or affect public safety,” he said.
At least 37 people have died from the flood in Maiduguri and about half a million others displaced.
Meanwhile, a team of officials from the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations has visited Maiduguri for a firsthand assessment and response to the devastating floods wreaking havoc in the area.
Comprising international and national Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), the team was led by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall.
The group arrived in the Borno State capital on Saturday on an assessment visit over the Alau Dam flood disaster.
This was disclosed in a press release to journalists on Sunday by the National Information Officer of the UN Information Centre, Oluseyi Soremekun.
Soremekun said the team met with affected residents, government officials, and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to assess the damage and outline immediate support measures.
“The flood-affected people are facing a crisis within a crisis, as the floods occurred during a severe food insecurity and malnutrition crisis.
“I witnessed firsthand the devastation and hardship caused by the flooding, including the destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure. I also saw the suffering of the affected communities,” Fall stated.
The delegation promised swift action to alleviate the suffering of displaced families, including the provision of food, clean water, sanitation facilities, and shelter.
It stated that many people affected by the floods, reported to be the worst in 30 years, already had humanitarian needs prior to the disaster, having been displaced multiple times by conflict and insecurity, and are now even more vulnerable.
