A woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The substance was allegedly intended for her son, Dare Sowunmi, an inmate said to be on death row at the correctional facility.
The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to Odukoya, Mrs Sowunmi was arrested at about 1:33pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, during routine screening at the main entrance of the custodial centre.
He said officers detected a substance suspected to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug, concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder.
“The suspect was attempting to deliver the package to an inmate, Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row. Following the interception, officers immediately detained Mrs Sowunmi,” Odukoya said.
The Correctional Service said the woman was subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The command said the handover was carried out in line with inter-agency operational procedures.
Reacting to the incident, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers involved for detecting the suspected contraband during the screening process.
Adesina reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards attempts to introduce prohibited substances or other illegal items into custodial facilities.
“Our custodial facilities exist to ensure public safety, reformation, and rehabilitation. We maintain an absolute zero-tolerance policy for drug trafficking or any illegal acts designed to compromise security,” he said.
He warned that anyone attempting to compromise security within correctional facilities would face legal consequences.
The Ogun State Command also urged members of the public to respect the rules governing custodial institutions and avoid actions capable of undermining security at correctional facilities.
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