A woman identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi has been arrested by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ogun State Command, over an alleged attempt to take suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son, Dare Sowunmi, an inmate reportedly on death row.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 28, 2026, when Mrs Sowunmi arrived at the custodial facility and was subjected to the routine security screening conducted at the main entrance.
According to the NCoS, officers detected the suspicious substance at about 1:33pm during the screening exercise. The substance was suspected to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug, and was allegedly concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder.
The correctional authorities said the package was allegedly intended for Dare Sowunmi, who is currently being held at the facility on death row.
Following the discovery, security officers immediately detained Mrs Sowunmi and prevented the suspected contraband from getting into the custodial centre.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Olayinka Odukoya, said the suspect was subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in line with established inter-agency procedures.
Odukoya explained that the NDLEA would take over the matter for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.
The development has again drawn attention to the security measures deployed at custodial facilities to prevent prohibited substances and other forms of contraband from reaching inmates.
Reacting to the incident, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, praised the correctional officers involved for remaining vigilant and following the required security procedures.
Adesina reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and other illegal activities capable of threatening security within correctional facilities.
He warned that attempts to introduce prohibited items into custodial centres would attract legal consequences, stressing that the facilities are established not only for the custody of inmates but also for public safety, reformation and rehabilitation.
The Ogun State Command also appealed to members of the public to respect the rules governing custodial institutions and avoid actions capable of compromising security.
The command maintained that anyone found attempting to undermine the safety and integrity of its facilities would be subjected to the appropriate legal process.