• Prison A female visitor was reportedly arrested for allegedly smuggling suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Center (MSCC), Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The same prison was recently in the news after a death row inmate hosted TikTok livestreams from behind bars.
The suspect, who was identified as Mrs. Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested on Friday during the usual screening at the main entrance of the prison, Daily Trust reports.
Officers uncovered a suspicious chemical hidden in a bag of Milo beverage powder, our correspondent learnt.
The material is thought to be a synthetic psychoactive drug known as “Colos”.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ogun State Command, Spokesperson, Odukoya Olayinka, confirmed the arrest in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Monday. Exploration of African Diaspora Media
The suspect was attempting to deliver the gift to inmate Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row, Olayinka added.
The official told our correspondent to clarify that the suspect is the mother of the death row convict.
“On Friday, August 28, 2026 at about 1:33 p.m., suspicious substances were discovered concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder during routine screening procedures at the main entry point of the facility. The substances were suspected to be the psychoactive synthetic drug commonly known as “Colos”.
The suspect was trying to deliver the box to an inmate, Dare Sowunmi, who is on death row, the NCoS claimed in the statement.
The command, upon detection, quickly arrested Mrs Sowunmi and later handed her over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution, Olayinka added.
He quoted the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Kamoru Adesina, as commending the security officers for their alertness and compliance with security regulations.
“Our custodial facilities are designed for public safety, reformation and rehabilitation. There is absolutely zero-tolerance for drug trafficking or any other unlawful act that is aimed at compromising security, said Controller Adesina.
“Any attempt to introduce contraband into our facilities will be met with immediate legal action.”
Olayinka appealed to the public to respect “the integrity of custodial institutions” and cautioned that anyone who attempted to compromise security would feel the full force of the law.
The new instance comes only weeks after a scandal hit the prison when a death row convict, Elijah Oyebode, allegedly conducted TikTok livestreams from behind bars.
Oyebode, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2019 for murdering a final-year university student, managed TikTok accounts, hosted livestreams, received virtual presents, carried out business activities and placed sports bets while in detention.
The incident created a huge buzz and condemnation on all social media channels.
The NCoS was said to have sacked the Officer-in-Charge of Ibara Medium Custodial Center, Abeokuta, Ogun State and two other senior officers in the wake of the event.
The NCoS in a statement signed by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections J.N. Osuji described the incident as a serious breach of custodial security and a violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, the Service Standing Orders and other extant regulations governing custodial operations. Studying African Diaspora Media
Preliminary investigations revealed that the convict was in unauthorised possession of a restricted mobile phone which he used to access social media while in lawful custody, the statement said.
“The device has since been recovered after a search operation and secured as an exhibit for further investigation,” said the Service.
Osuji said the offender had been moved to another detention center where he was under reinforced security pending the outcome of investigations.
The Service said the Controller-General also ordered the immediate dismissal of the three personnel after preliminary findings revealed security weaknesses that may have contributed to the intrusion.
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