The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Osun Command, has confirmed it is working closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) to recapture seven inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa following a structural breach caused by heavy rainfall.

According to the command's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joel Oyedokun, the inmates were declared missing after a heavy downpour around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday damaged the security perimeter of the facility, creating an opportunity for their escape.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Osogbo, Oyedokun revealed that other security agencies in the state have been informed about the incident and are actively participating in the manhunt.

"We are working with other sister agencies and we have our men on ground in different locations. We have the escaped inmates' biometrics, which we are working on," Oyedokun stated.

He further explained that the PROs of various security agencies in the state maintain a communication platform where information about the escaped inmates has been shared to facilitate their recapture.

"Hopefully, as we are getting them arrested, we will be keeping you abreast of the situation. We are on the field working to get them arrested," he assured.

The escape has raised concerns about the structural integrity of correctional facilities during extreme weather conditions, particularly as Nigeria enters its rainy season.

Authorities have not yet released the identities or offenses of the escaped inmates, but have confirmed that their biometric data is being utilized in the ongoing search operation.

The NCoS has urged members of the public to report any suspicious persons or provide information that could lead to the recapture of the escaped inmates.