The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that seven inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after a section of the prison’s perimeter wall collapsed during heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 2:00 a.m., when a portion of the aging facility gave way due to the storm, allowing the prisoners to flee.
In a statement released by NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, the agency announced that a full-scale manhunt is underway to locate and return the escapees to custody.
He also stated that the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances that led to the breach.
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“The Service is working closely with sister security agencies and community leaders to recapture the escapees and return them to custody,” Abubakar noted.
The public has been urged to assist with any information that could aid the search efforts. At the same time, citizens are advised to contact the nearest security agency or reach out through the following hotlines: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006.
This is not the first time Nigeria’s correctional facilities have suffered breaches due to extreme weather. On September 9, 2024, a flood-induced collapse of the perimeter wall at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri, Borno State, led to the escape of 281 inmates. Similarly, on April 24, 2024, heavy rains damaged the Suleja Medium Security Prison in Niger State, resulting in the escape of 119 inmates.
These repeated incidents underscore a growing crisis in Nigeria’s correctional infrastructure, which has become increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and structural decay, raising serious concerns about national security and prison reform.
