Authorities have launched a large-scale search following the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after heavy rainfall caused part of the facility’s perimeter wall to collapse in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the wall, which had aged significantly, gave way around 2:00 a.m. during a torrential downpour, creating a gap that allowed the inmates to flee.
In an official statement issued by NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, the service confirmed that efforts to apprehend the escapees have commenced, involving collaboration with other law enforcement bodies and community leaders in the area.
The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered a prompt and thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the breach and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service has mobilized a coordinated search operation following a structural failure caused by severe weather at its Ilesa facility,” the statement read. “Seven inmates took advantage of the situation and escaped custody.”
NCoS is calling on the public to assist in locating the fugitives by providing any useful information. Citizens with leads are encouraged to contact the nearest police station or use any of the following hotlines: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006.
This escape adds to a growing list of similar incidents linked to the fragile infrastructure of correctional centres across the country. In the past year alone, storm-induced breaches have led to mass escapes in Maiduguri and Suleja, raising fresh concerns about the state of Nigeria’s prison system and its ability to withstand environmental pressures.
In September 2024, flooding compromised the walls of a Maiduguri prison, enabling 281 inmates to break free. Likewise, 119 inmates escaped from the Suleja Medium Security Prison in April 2024 under similar circumstances.
NCoS maintains that measures are being strengthened to address infrastructure weaknesses and reinforce security systems across correctional facilities nationwide.
