Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed deep concern over a jailbreak at the Ilesa Correctional Centre, which occurred during the early hours of Tuesday and led to the escape of seven awaiting trial inmates.
Governor Adeleke described the incident as “unfortunate” and vowed that the state government would work closely with federal authorities to uncover the root cause of the breach and ensure the escapees are recaptured.
The governor made this known during a visit to the correctional facility on Thursday, accompanied by a high-powered government delegation including top security officials from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In a statement issued on Saturday by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, Adeleke assured that proactive steps would be taken to prevent future occurrences.
“As a government, we will not relent in partnering with the Federal Government to determine the immediate cause of this jailbreak and implement measures to forestall a recurrence,” the governor stated.
He commended the Federal Government’s offer of a ₦5 million reward for credible information leading to the arrest of the fugitives, urging citizens to assist security agencies with useful tips.
Addressing the condition of the facility, Adeleke revealed plans to install a multi-million naira solar-powered lighting system and reinforce the perimeter fencing to improve security.
“There is an urgent need to address the infrastructural gaps at this centre. Both the state and federal governments will work together to enhance security and ensure the safety of inmates and staff,” he said.
Earlier, the Controller of the Ilesa Correctional Centre, C.C. Oluwadele, who welcomed the governor’s delegation, disclosed that the inmates exploited a heavy downpour on Tuesday to escape from the facility.
He assured that a manhunt was underway, with biometric data of the escapees already shared to aid public identification and tracking.
Meanwhile, one of the escapees, 39-year-old Kabiru Oyedun, has been re-arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos. The suspect was apprehended on Tuesday, May 21, at about 5:35 p.m. in the Oshin-Welder area of Ayobo, a Lagos suburb, following a tip-off from vigilant residents.
Police authorities confirmed that efforts to apprehend the remaining escapees are ongoing.
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