A woman identified as Shobowale Balikis has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol concealed in a bottled water pack into the Ibara Custodial Centre in Ogun State.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Odukoya, correctional officers intercepted Balikis at about 3:50pm on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during screening at the custodial facility.
He said the woman allegedly concealed a substance identified by the service as “Ethano” inside a bottled water pack and attempted to take it into the facility for an inmate.
“At about 15:50 hours today, 26th September 2026, vigilant officials at the Ibara Custodial Centre intercepted a woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, in an attempt to smuggle contraband into the facility.”
Odukoya said the substance had been disguised as drinking water intended for an inmate.
“She was caught concealing Ethano inside a bottled water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate.”
The correctional service said the substance was detected before it reached the inmate population.
Following her arrest, Balikis was handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“The swift action of correctional officers ensured the illicit substance was detected before it could reach the inmate population.”
The Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, said the incident demonstrated the command’s zero-tolerance approach to the smuggling of contraband into custodial facilities.
Adesina said the service would continue to strengthen measures aimed at maintaining safety, discipline and order within its facilities while protecting inmates and staff.
The command also assured the public that it would continue screening visitors and monitoring attempts to introduce prohibited substances into custodial centres.
The latest arrest comes less than a month after another woman was arrested at the same Ibara custodial facility for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs to an inmate.
On August 28, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi was arrested during routine screening at the facility’s entrance after allegedly attempting to take suspected illicit drugs to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who was reported to be on death row.
The Nigerian Correctional Service said the earlier incident was detected during the screening process, highlighting the continued security checks being carried out on people visiting inmates.
In the latest case, however, the authorities have not disclosed the specific type or quantity of alcohol allegedly contained in the bottle beyond identifying the substance as “Ethano”.
The allegation against Balikis has not been determined by a court, and she remains entitled to the presumption of innocence while the police investigation continues.
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