Charles Okah, convicted for orchestrating the October 1, 2010, Abuja bombings, has disclosed a chilling account of mass killings at the New Minimum Security Custodial Centre (NMSCC) in Maiduguri, Borno State. Okah alleged that during the flood disaster on September 10, 2024, over 100 inmates were executed by correctional officers and later falsely listed as escapees.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) previously reported that 281 inmates were unaccounted for after floods breached the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri. According to a statement by NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, the flooding caused significant damage, including the collapse of the prison’s perimeter fence. Abubakar stated that efforts were underway to recapture the missing inmates, with seven already returned to custody.
However, in a detailed 14-page letter titled “An Eyewitness Account: The Systematic Killings of Lunatic Inmates and other Acts of Atrocities in Nigerian Prisons,” Okah alleged that the missing inmates were, in reality, victims of extrajudicial killings. He claimed these atrocities were carried out by untrained armed squad units during the evacuation, using live ammunition on inmates who panicked as floodwaters overwhelmed the facility.
Shocking Revelations and Accusations
Okah narrated the events, describing how inmates, fearing for their lives, became frantic as water flooded the prison. He alleged that correctional officers responded by firing directly into the crowd, resulting in chaos and a deadly stampede. Survivors, now transferred to the Maiduguri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, are reportedly willing to testify if an inquest is conducted as mandated by the Nigerian Correctional Act of 2019.
In his letter, Okah accused senior NCoS officials, including the Assistant Controller General and Zonal Coordinator Zone C, of orchestrating a cover-up. He claimed the deceased inmates were buried in mass graves alongside flood victims and deceptively labeled as escapees to conceal the crime.
Okah, who has faced retaliation for speaking out, recounted being placed in solitary confinement for months after earlier attempts to expose atrocities within the prison system. Despite threats to remain silent, he stated, “It would be cowardice to let fear dictate my conscience.”
Call for Accountability
Okah urged the Controller General of NCoS to resign if complicit in the cover-up or failure to initiate an investigation. He also called on the public and human rights advocates to demand accountability and reform within Nigeria’s prison system.
The flood, caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River after heavy rains, was reported to have affected over 23,000 households in Maiduguri. According to the United Nations and local authorities, the town experienced its worst flooding in 30 years.
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