Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has expressed deep concerns over reports that Boko Haram terrorists may have escaped from the Maiduguri correctional centre following the devastating floods that hit the state capital earlier this week.
The floods, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, have been described as the worst the region has seen in 30 years.
The disaster, which displaced over 400,000 residents and claimed more than 30 lives, has heightened fears that at least 200 inmates, including Boko Haram members, might have taken advantage of the chaos to flee the prison. A report from Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, suggested that the severe flooding allowed the inmates to escape.
Speaking to BBC News, Governor Zulum said, “I’m worried. Yes, I’m seriously worried,” when asked about the possibility of escaped insurgents. The governor added that his administration had begun providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the disaster, which has reportedly impacted over two million people across the state.
Zulum also highlighted the Borno government’s ongoing efforts to reintegrate former Boko Haram members through its “Borno model of rehabilitation.” Over the last two years, more than 200,000 insurgents and their families have reportedly repented and reintegrated into society, contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in the state.
The governor attributed the severity of the flooding to years of neglect by the federal Ministry of water resources in maintaining the Alau Dam, combined with heavy rainfall in recent weeks.
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