Woman arrested for alleged attempt to smuggle illicit drugs into Ogun prison

The Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service has arrested a woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son, who is on death row at the facility.

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The woman, identified as Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested at about 1:33 p.m. on Friday, August 28, during routine screening at the prison’s main entrance, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command.

The command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Odukoya, said officers detected a substance suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug, concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder.

The substance was allegedly intended for her son Dare Sowunmi, an inmate at the facility who is currently on death row.

“Routine screening procedures at the facility’s main entry point led to the detection of suspicious substances, believed to be the psychoactive synthetic drug commonly known as ‘Colos,’ concealed within a sachet of a popular beverage powder,” Mr Odukoya said.

He said Mrs Sowunmi was immediately detained following the discovery and later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.

“The suspect was attempting to deliver the package to an inmate, Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row,” he said.

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The development comes as correctional authorities continue to tighten screening measures at custodial facilities to prevent the entry of drugs and other prohibited items.

The latest arrest comes a month after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation co-published with Nigerian Tribune raised questions about security breaches at the same Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta.

The investigation found that a convicted murderer on death row, Elijah Oyebode, had been hosting TikTok livestreams from inside the facility, interacting with people outside the prison and receiving monetary gifts through the platform.

The investigation also documented claims by Mr Oyebode that inmates had access to mobile phones and internet connections inside the facility and that contraband, including phones and drugs, could be smuggled into the prison. He alleged that some correctional officers facilitated the movement of such items into the facility.

Following the investigation, the Nigerian Correctional Service acknowledged the vulnerability of custodial facilities to contraband and staff compromise, while warning that unauthorised digital access could allow inmates to coordinate criminal activities from behind prison walls.

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The agency said it maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and unauthorised gadgets in custodial centres.

Reacting to the arrest of Mrs Sowunmi, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers for their vigilance and adherence to security protocols.

“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,” Mr Adesina said.

“Attempts to introduce contraband into our facilities will be met with swift legal action.”

The command urged members of the public to respect the integrity of custodial institutions, warning that attempts to compromise security would attract legal consequences.