A major security breach has occurred within the Nigerian Army as nine soldiers reportedly escaped from detention at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division in the early hours of Monday.
According to military sources, the escapees were being held for serious offences, including alleged links to Boko Haram terrorists and involvement in arms trafficking in Nigeria’s North-East region.
The incident, which happened around 2:15 a.m., has raised serious concerns about internal security lapses within one of the most sensitive military facilities in the country.
According to a senior military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, the soldiers broke free from a military guardroom inside the Maimalari Cantonment, where they had been detained pending investigation and trial.
“There was a jailbreak on Monday around 0215 hours at Maimalari Cantonment. Nine personnel detained, mostly for dealing in arms running with terrorists, escaped,” the source said.
The source confirmed that the military high command immediately launched an intensive search operation to recapture the fugitives. So far, one of the escaped soldiers has been rearrested, while eight others remain at large.
“It’s a very serious matter. One of them was arrested after the incident in the bush, but eight others are still missing. It’s a major security breach — imagine something like this happening inside a military barracks. It’s embarrassing,” the officer added.
The Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri is one of Nigeria’s largest and most secure military facilities. It serves as the operational headquarters for the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, a key component of the Operation Hadin Kai — the military campaign against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East.
Given its strategic importance, the breach has shocked both military personnel and observers, raising questions about security protocols and oversight in the barracks.
A retired Army officer, who requested anonymity, described the development as “deeply troubling” and a potential indication of infiltration within the ranks.
“When soldiers accused of collaborating with terrorists can escape from the heart of our major military base, it points to a systemic failure. The military must urgently clean house and strengthen internal security,” he said.
Military sources said most of the escapees had been arrested over allegations of collaborating with terrorist groups and supplying weapons to insurgents operating in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.
Over the years, intelligence reports have highlighted concerns about insider threats within the military, with some personnel accused of providing sensitive information, ammunition, and logistics support to terrorist networks in exchange for money.
The situation has long been a sore point for military leadership, as such acts not only endanger troops in the field but also compromise operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.
In 2022, a similar case shocked the Army when Lance Corporal Abdullahi Jibrin, an instructor with a Nigerian Army battalion in Geidam, Yobe State, took his own life after being arrested for allegedly collaborating with Boko Haram insurgents.
According to reports at the time, Jibrin was identified among the terrorists who attacked Geidam town. He was later tracked down by military intelligence in Gashua, several kilometers away from his duty post.
The latest jailbreak raises serious concerns about discipline, accountability, and loyalty within the Nigerian military, particularly as the country continues to battle violent extremism in the North-East.
Boko Haram’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed over 40,000 people and displaced millions, according to United Nations estimates. Although military operations have weakened the group’s capabilities, recent attacks in Borno and Yobe suggest that the threat is far from over.
The escape of soldiers accused of colluding with terrorists could undermine public confidence in the armed forces, especially in communities already skeptical about the sincerity of the counter-insurgency campaign.
Security expert Dr. Kabiru Adamu described the jailbreak as “a red flag for Nigeria’s internal security.”
He said, “It shows that the issue of infiltration within the military is still real. These are not civilians escaping from police custody; these are trained soldiers breaking out from a high-security military facility. It has to be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
As of Tuesday night, the Nigerian Army had not released an official statement confirming the incident, but sources say the Army Headquarters in Abuja has been briefed.
The search for the eight remaining escapees is ongoing, with roadblocks and surveillance operations reportedly intensified across Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
An intelligence officer told reporters that security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force, have been placed on alert to prevent the fugitives from leaving the state.
The Nigerian Army has faced multiple challenges in recent years, ranging from low morale and resource shortages to allegations of corruption and poor welfare among troops.
Internal corruption and collaboration with insurgents have further complicated efforts to restore stability in the North-East.
In 2021, several soldiers were court-martialled for selling ammunition to bandits and terrorists. Others have faced charges of desertion, mutiny, and sabotage.
The Army’s leadership, under the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has repeatedly emphasized its zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline and betrayal, vowing to ensure that any personnel found guilty of collaborating with enemies of the state face severe punishment.
