 has confirmed a jailbreak incident at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State,){kind=link}
The heavy downpour of May 20, 2025, led to a security breach at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa. Unfortunately, seven inmates exploited the situation and escaped.
The leadership of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed a jailbreak incident at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, following a powerful overnight downpour that compromised the facility’s perimeter security.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025, led to the escape of seven inmates and has prompted a full-scale manhunt by security operatives.
In a statement released Tuesday evening by the NCoS National Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, the Service described the escape as being triggered by what it termed a “force majeure”—an unforeseeable natural event.
According to the spokesman, torrential rainfall began around 2:00 am and resulted in the collapse of part of the prison’s perimeter wall, thereby creating an opportunity for the inmates to breach security and flee the facility.
“The heavy downpour of May 20, 2025, at about 2:00 am led to a security breach at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa. Unfortunately, seven inmates exploited the situation and escaped,” the statement read.
In response to the development, the Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Mr. Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances that led to the jailbreak. He has also directed that internal security protocols be reviewed to prevent a recurrence, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The NCoS stated that an emergency collaboration effort is already underway with other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Community leaders in Ilesa and surrounding areas have also been engaged to support intelligence gathering and aid in tracking down the escapees.
The Service has issued a nationwide appeal for public cooperation, urging citizens who may have any information regarding the whereabouts of the escaped inmates to report immediately to the nearest police station or correctional facility.
For direct assistance, the NCoS has activated its Response Desk and provided dedicated hotlines for the public to report tips anonymously. These are: 070870860005, 09060004598, 08075050006
“The Service solicits the cooperation of the public in providing information that may lead to the recapture of the fleeing inmates,” the statement added, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of the situation.
This incident has raised renewed concerns about the structural integrity and climate resilience of correctional facilities in Nigeria, particularly amid increasingly erratic weather patterns. Experts have noted that many of the country’s prison facilities are decades old and in urgent need of infrastructural upgrades, especially in terms of perimeter fortifications and surveillance systems.
There are also calls for better disaster preparedness within the correctional system, including contingency protocols for natural disasters that may compromise security.
While the identities of the escaped inmates have not yet been made public, authorities are compiling and verifying details, including photographs and case records, to aid in the recapture efforts. A full update is expected to be released in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
As of this report, no injuries to correctional officers or other inmates were recorded during the incident.
The Nigeria Correctional Service reiterated its commitment to maintaining security and public safety and assured that all necessary steps are being taken to restore order and prevent future breaches.