The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has reported the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after a rainstorm damaged the facility’s perimeter wall in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
According to Abubakar Umar, spokesperson for the NCoS, the inmates escaped around 2:00 a.m., shortly after heavy rainfall compromised the prison’s outer barrier.
Umar stated that Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the breach. He also confirmed that the NCoS is working closely with other security agencies and local community leaders to locate and recapture the fleeing inmates.
“We remain committed to returning the escapees to lawful custody and are taking steps to reinforce the facility’s security to prevent future incidents,” Umar said in an official statement.
The NCoS has called on the public to assist in the recapture efforts by providing any useful information. Citizens can contact the service via the following numbers: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006.
This escape is the latest in a series of jailbreaks linked to structural damage caused by extreme weather. In March 2025, 12 inmates escaped from a correctional facility in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, and in 2024, 118 inmates fled the Suleja Custodial Centre in Niger State after rain weakened its walls.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had previously blamed such incidents on officer negligence, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure and security in correctional facilities across the country.
