Seven inmates have escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, following the collapse of a section of the prison wall earlier yesterday.
The breach, which reportedly occurred during heavy rainfall, provided the inmates an opportunity to flee the facility undetected. It remains unclear whether the wall collapse was purely due to environmental factors or if it was the result of sabotage.
Confirming the incident, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, through the Deputy Controller and Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, said a comprehensive manhunt has been launched to track down the escapees.
“The Service is working in close collaboration with sister security agencies and community leaders to recapture the inmates and return them to custody,” the statement read.
Controller Nwakuche has also directed an immediate investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the breach and to prevent future occurrences.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is calling on the public to assist by providing any information that could aid in locating the fugitives. Members of the public are urged to contact the nearest security agency or reach out via the NCoS Response Desk lines: 07087086005, 09060004598, 08075050006.
The incident has heightened concerns over the security and infrastructure of custodial centers across the country, with renewed calls for urgent reforms and reinforcement of correctional facilities.