There is tension in Ilesa and environs following the escape of seven inmates from the prison. He also writes that police IPO (investigating police officers) handling several cases and complainants are worried over the incident while witnesses running helter-skelter for safety.
WHAT WE GATHERED?
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that some inmates (awaiting trial) allegedly jumped the prison’s perimeter and fled onto the streets of Ilesa, provoking panic and tension.
Findings revealed that these inmates fled from the prison via the walls in the middle of the night after removing one of the burglary windows in the yard.
Recall that the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) claimed that the breach occurred around 2:00 am and was caused by the structural failure of the wall during the storm.
According to WITHIN NIGERIA findings, Ayeso—the host community of the prison—did not record or witness any storm, nor did any old perimeter collapse as speculated.
A check by WITHIN NIGERIA revealed that there are security dogs, men of the Nigerian Army, police operatives, and men of the armed squad of the prison who protect the facility against attack, invaders, or internal revolts.
This reporter wondered how awaiting inmates could escape from the facility when there is a special patrol that moves around the entire facility at night, apart from restricted and monitored movement of inmates during the night.
Additional findings revealed that it took the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) more than 24 hours to release a public statement about the incident.
WITHIN NIGERIA also gathered that there was no reportage of the incident by operatives of sister agencies such as the police and army, which questions the status of interrelationships between security agencies.
We also gathered that four (4) inmates out of the seven (7) inmates whose pictures were posted by the NCS wore prison uniforms, depicting that they have been convicted.
WHAT NCS TOLD THE PUBLIC?
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Umar Abubakar, via a public statement, disclosed that seven (7) inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre after the facility’s old perimeter wall collapsed due to an overnight rainfall.
According to Abubakar, the security breach, which was caused by the structural failure of the wall during the storm, occurred around 2:00 am.
The statement reads in full:
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.
“The force majeure that occurred at about 0200 hours on Tuesday, 20th of May 2025, led to the escape of seven (7) inmates.
“Following the incident, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the escape.
“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 read.
NCoS is urging members of the public to assist with any information that could aid in recapturing the fugitives.
Citizens are advised to contact the nearest security agency or reach out via the following hotlines: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Security sources have continued to express concerns over the incident, citing negligence of duty and conspiracy on the part of prison authorities, particularly soldiers and police officers posted for special duty at the hour.
According to a security source, the prison break is not a surprise to him owing to the high level of corruption, unholy relationship between prison wardens, inmates, and relatives, and nonchalant attitude of prison staff.
The source who spoke under anonymity wondered about the whereabouts of officers on duty at the time of the incident, claiming that they were supposed to calm the situation and prevent inmates from escaping the prison.
The source, while making reference to Correctional Center Rules of Engagement, disclosed that there must be a special patrol at the particular time of the incident, either in the rain or sun.
“These officers need to explain where they were at the time of the incident. The special patrol team needs to be investigated. It exposes the weakness of the security architecture of the prison. We now know that there’s no special effort or mechanism put in place by the prison to checkmate or subdue any unforeseen circumstances,” the source further disclosed.
IPOs AND COMPLAINANTS ON THE RUN?
As of the time of filing this report, WITHIN NIGERIA learned that some IPOs (investigating police officers) and complainants who reside in Ilesa are terrified, tense, and troubled by the recent development.
Ajibola (not real name) warned that the development would delay and frustrate judicial processes, as police IPOs handling several cases, including complainants, are now troubled owing to blurry outcomes as a result of missing awaiting-trial inmates.
He also feared that awaiting-trial inmates who escaped from prison could cause havoc or possibly attack their complainants or witnesses, citing how an inmate who fled Edo prison killed the person who testified against him in court, arguing that IPOs, complainants, witnesses, and prosecutors surely have reasons to be troubled.
THE ESCAPE, A BIG SLAP—JOHNSON
A crime expert simply identified as Johnson has described the escape of awaiting-trial inmates as a big slap on the Nigerian Correctional Service, particularly the Ilesa Medium Custodial Centre.
According to Johnson, the incident seems suspicious considering how inmates escaped via the perimeter despite its height, security dogs, armed officers, and other things.
The crime expert who argued that the incident seems suspicious considering how inmates escaped urged the Ministry of Interior to allow private detectives to investigate the incident.
Johnson told WITHIN NIGERIA that he has seen inmates following prison wardens home to do house chores such as fetching water, among others.
“I have seen inmates along Oke-Opo in Ilesa, standing by the roadside, begging for money from residents without being monitored by prison wardens. No alarm was raised either by police operatives or soldiers on duty. We need to check the records of prisons and compare them with courts.”
“There’s a rumor in town that it could be a plan to release a big fish in the prison by allowing other inmates to escape without being targeted for recovery. This and other speculations will be investigated by a panel of private detectives”, Johnson stated.
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