An early morning downpour on Tuesday, triggered the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after part of the facility’s old perimeter wall collapsed.
Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said the breach happened around 2:00 a.m. due to what it described as a structural failure caused by the heavy rainfall.
In a statement issued by the NCoS spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, the agency said, “The Nigerian Correctional Service has launched an expansive manhunt following the rainfall that breached the security of its facility at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ilesa, Osun State.”
He added that the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has directed a prompt investigation to uncover the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
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“Following the incident, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape,” the statement noted.
Assuring the public, Abubakar said, “The Service is working closely with sister security agencies as well as community leaders to recapture the escapees and bring them back to custody.”
The NCoS also appealed to the public for assistance and urged anyone with useful information to reach out through the following hotlines: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006.
This latest escape is one in a series of similar incidents linked to poor infrastructure and natural disasters. On September 9, 2024, heavy flooding led to the collapse of a perimeter fence at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Maiduguri, Borno State, allowing 281 inmates to escape.
In another case on April 24, 2024, torrential rain caused the walls of the Suleja prison in Niger State to cave in, leading to the escape of 119 inmates.
These repeated incidents have drawn attention to the fragile state of correctional facilities across Nigeria, many of which are aging, overcrowded, and vulnerable to environmental hazards.
