Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Osun Police Command has stated that it has not received any official communication regarding the escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State.
The Police Spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday, “We also heard about the escape, but there is no official report made to the police by the NCoS. Our Intel revealed to us that actually, there was an escape.”
He added that the police are still unclear about the cause of the escape, explaining, “From the intelligence report we got, there is nothing we can lay our hands on that made the inmates escape.”
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed the incident, reporting that seven inmates went missing after heavy rainfall around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday damaged the facility’s security perimeter.
Umar Abubakar, NCoS spokesperson, said the inmates escaped due to a breach caused by the rain.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Controller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar noted that the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
“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 statement said.
Authorities have launched a manhunt to recapture the fugitives, with the NCoS emphasizing its commitment to restoring security at the facility. Umar stated, “The NCoS is committed to ensuring the escapees are returned to lawful custody. We are also working to reinforce the facility’s security to prevent further occurrences.”
The NCoS has also appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with credible information to come forward and provide tips through their response desk lines.
Africa Health Report (AHR) findings show that the incident follows a pattern of escapes linked to heavy rainfall weakening prison structures.
In March, 12 inmates escaped from a federal correctional centre in Kogi, and last year, 118 inmates fled from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, previously attributed such jailbreaks to negligence by officers. The NCoS continues to work with security agencies and community leaders to prevent future breaches and enhance overall prison security.
