Rainfall Triggers Ilesa Prison Break: Seven Inmates Escape as Wall Collapses Amid Storm

In a worrying recurrence of prison security failures linked to natural disasters, seven inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, during the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The escape followed the collapse of the facility’s aging perimeter wall during a torrential overnight rainfall.

According to a statement issued by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, the breach occurred around 2:00 a.m. and was described as a force majeure incident caused by the structural failure of the prison wall amid heavy downpour. The collapse provided a vulnerable opening, which the inmates exploited to break free from custody.

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Collapsed Wall Triggers Urgent Manhunt and Investigation

The Nigerian Correctional Service has since launched a high-priority manhunt to track and recapture the escaped inmates. The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances leading to the escape. He also directed prison authorities nationwide to reassess the structural integrity of similar facilities to prevent further occurrences.

“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 NCoS statement read. “The force majeure which occurred at about 0200 hours on Tuesday, 20th of May 2025, led to the escape of seven (7) inmates.”

Nwakuche emphasized that the service is collaborating closely with sister security agencies and community leaders to track down the escapees and ensure their swift return to custody. The NCoS has also issued a public appeal for assistance, urging citizens to report any sightings or suspicious activities.

For public assistance, the following hotlines have been made available: 07087086005, 09060004598, and 08075050006.

This latest prison break adds to the growing list of jailbreaks in Nigeria caused by environmental stress on poorly maintained correctional infrastructure. Analysts and civil society groups have repeatedly warned about the vulnerability of the country’s correctional centres, many of which were built decades ago and are now in dire need of rehabilitation.

The Ilesa incident mirrors similar high-profile prison escapes in the past year alone. On April 24, 2024, torrential rains caused the collapse of the walls of the Suleja Medium Security Prison in Niger State, leading to the escape of 119 inmates. Prior to that, on September 9, 2024, a major flood in Maiduguri, Borno State, destroyed the perimeter wall of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, facilitating the escape of 281 inmates.

These incidents not only spotlight the fragile state of the nation’s correctional facilities but also raise significant questions about disaster preparedness and contingency planning by prison authorities. The increasing frequency of jailbreaks has created heightened anxiety among the populace and placed additional pressure on security forces.

The repeated pattern of rainfall-induced jailbreaks is now being regarded not merely as isolated events but as a systemic failure in correctional administration and infrastructure management. Public policy experts have called on the federal government to invest urgently in the structural reinforcement of correctional centres, especially those in regions prone to seasonal rainfall and flooding.

Security analysts have also underscored the need for integrating modern surveillance and early-warning technologies into prison infrastructure. Moreover, they suggest comprehensive audits of all medium and maximum-security prisons to identify and fix vulnerabilities before the next rainy season intensifies the crisis.

Meanwhile, residents of Ilesa and surrounding communities have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement authorities. While no reports have yet emerged of the escapees engaging in criminal activities, security agencies have assured the public that efforts to secure the area are underway.

As the investigation unfolds, the Nigerian Correctional Service is under renewed pressure to act decisively—not only in recapturing the escapees but also in instituting preventive measures that can ensure the long-term integrity and safety of its facilities.