The daily torch media
Nine Nigerian Soldiers Escape from Guardroom at Maimalari Cantonment in Major Security Breach
The Nigerian military has suffered a major security breach after nine soldiers escaped from a military guardroom at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The incident occurred early Monday at approximately 2:15 a.m., according to military sources. The soldiers had been detained on suspicion of arms trafficking and links to terrorist groups, particularly Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
One of the escapees was recaptured shortly after in a nearby bush, but eight others remain on the run. “It’s a very major security breach; imagine something like this happening inside a military barracks,” a senior source lamented.
The facility where the escape occurred is the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division and is considered a key command centre in the fight against insurgency in the northeast.
In response, an emergency investigation panel has reportedly been set up to determine how terrorists were able to exploit the breach. Analysts say the incident raises serious questions about internal security protocols, troop loyalty, and the infiltration of terror networks within military installations.
