British authorities have reportedly launched a manhunt for a British Nigerian man who escaped after being mistakenly released from prison despite serving a sentence linked to the abduction of his young son.
The man, identified as Ifedayo Adeyeye, had been jailed in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of abducting his five year old son from France and taking him to Nigeria without the consent of the child’s mother.
According to reports, Adeyeye was serving a six month prison sentence and had also received an additional 12 month sentence for failing to return the child to his mother. However, prison authorities allegedly failed to properly record the second sentence, leading to his mistaken release from HMP Pentonville in London on April 21, 2026.
British police were reportedly informed of the error days later, sparking criticism over delays in responding to the incident. Authorities now fear the suspect may have fled the UK, with reports suggesting he could have travelled to Spain or another destination.
A UK High Court judge reportedly described the case as extremely serious, accusing Adeyeye of posing a threat to the physical and emotional wellbeing of the child. The judge also criticised what was described as an “alarming lack of urgency” by prison authorities after the mistaken release was discovered.
The child’s mother, identified in reports as Claire N’Djosse, has reportedly not seen her son for nearly two years following the abduction.
The incident has renewed concerns in the UK over prison administration failures after reports indicated that several inmates were mistakenly released from custody between 2025 and 2026.
