About 118 inmates escaped Suleja prison in Niger state on Wednesday night after heavy rains on damaged the facility in Nigeria.

According to the prison spokesperson, Adamu Duza on Thursday, the downpour, which lasted several hours, wrecked parts of the medium-security prison, including the perimeter wall and surrounding buildings.

He said service agents were hunting the fugitives and had so far recaptured 10 of them with the help of other security agencies.

"We are in hot chase to recapture the rest," Duza said.

Further, he assured the public the authorities were on top of the situation.

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"The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency," he said.

Duza gave no details on the identities or affiliation of the escaped prisoners but in the past members of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgent group have been locked up in Suleja prison.