A major security breach has occurred at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State, as nine Nigerian Army personnel reportedly escaped from a military guardroom early Monday morning.
The escape, which took place around 2:15 a.m., involved soldiers who were being detained over alleged connections with Boko Haram terrorists and involvement in arms trafficking in the North-East.
According to military sources, one of the escaped personnel has been recaptured, while efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining eight.
“One of them was rearrested shortly after fleeing into the bush,” a senior officer confirmed. “It’s a serious security lapse — something like this happening inside a military base is disgraceful.”
Maimalari Cantonment serves as the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division, one of the country’s most strategic military formations battling insurgency in the North-East.
The escape has raised fresh concerns over internal sabotage within the armed forces, following previous reports of military personnel aiding terrorists and bandits.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor (retd.), had earlier warned commanders to sensitize troops against collaborating with insurgents. In a memo, he described the growing number of such cases as “alarming,” citing multiple arrests of soldiers caught aiding the enemy.
Past incidents have also highlighted the depth of the issue. In 2022, Lance Corporal Abdullahi Jibrin, an instructor in Geidam, Yobe State, committed suicide after being arrested for allegedly working with Boko Haram members who attacked communities in the region.
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest jailbreak, but internal investigations are said to be underway to uncover how such an escape could occur within a highly secured military facility.
