The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that some Boko Haram commanders held at the Maiduguri New Prison were among those who escaped.
Not fewer than 200 inmates have escaped after a devastating flood pulled down a prison wall in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
An official of the Nigerian Correctional Center in Maiduguri told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that over 200 inmates escaped from the facility after a portion of the facility's parameter fence was pulled down in the aftermath of the flood that ravaged the city on Tuesday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that some Boko Haram commanders held at the Maiduguri New Prison were among those who escaped.
The source said, "The rain was torrential and caused terrible flood which affected our facility.
"Part of the wall of the Maiduguri New Prison collapsed and some Boko Haram commanders held in our facility have escaped with other prisoners. Those who escaped are more than 200 in all.”
"We were able to move 200 other inmates to a different facility," the officer added.
In a stark contradiction to the Borno State government's earlier assurances, the flood situation in Maiduguri took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, just four days after officials claimed to have implemented comprehensive preventive measures.
As reported earlier by SaharaReporters, the devastating flood struck Maiduguri and surrounding communities in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving hundreds of residents stranded.
The disaster has resulted in widespread destruction and displacement.
When contacted the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, regarding the issue, he said, "We're taking stock across the country. I can speak to the press two hours from now, so please call me in the next two hours."