A woman identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi has been arrested by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for allegedly attempting to smuggle a substance suspected to be a psychoactive drug into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for her son, who is on death row.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a routine screening exercise at the main entrance of the custodial facility.
According to the Ogun State Command of the NCoS, officers detected the suspected contraband at about 1:33 p.m. while screening visitors entering the facility.
The substance was reportedly concealed inside a sachet of a popular powdered beverage and was suspected by correctional officers to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug.
The woman was subsequently detained and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Woman allegedly attempted to deliver drugs to son
The Ogun State Command said the suspect was attempting to deliver the package to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is being held at the facility and is currently on death row.
The NCoS spokesperson in Ogun State, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday.
Odukoya said the discovery was made during the standard security screening process at the facility’s entrance.
According to the command, correctional officers became suspicious of the package and discovered a substance concealed within the beverage sachet.
The NCoS said the incident demonstrated the importance of routine screening and other security procedures put in place to prevent prohibited items from entering custodial facilities.
The authorities have not indicated that the suspected substance was tested and formally confirmed as the drug alleged at the time of the arrest. It is therefore being treated as a suspected psychoactive substance pending investigation.
Suspect handed over to NDLEA
Following the discovery, Sowunmi was detained by correctional officers before being transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The transfer was carried out in line with inter-agency procedures, according to the Ogun State Command.
The NDLEA is expected to investigate the substance and determine whether criminal charges should be brought against the suspect.
The NCoS said the case would be handled in accordance with established legal and investigative procedures.
The development highlights the role of collaboration between correctional authorities and other law enforcement agencies in tackling the movement of illicit substances into custodial centres.
NCoS warns against introducing contraband
The Controller of Corrections in Ogun State, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers who detected the suspected contraband during the screening exercise.
Adesina described the interception as an indication of the vigilance and professionalism of correctional personnel responsible for screening visitors and packages entering the facility.
He reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and other activities capable of compromising security within custodial centres.
According to the correctional authorities, facilities such as the Medium Security Custodial Centre are established for the custody, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates and should not become channels for the circulation of illicit substances.
The command subsequently warned members of the public against attempting to introduce prohibited items into correctional facilities.
It stressed that individuals caught attempting to compromise the security of custodial institutions would face the consequences prescribed by law.
How the woman was arrested
The arrest followed a routine security screening at the main entrance of the Ibara custodial centre.
The NCoS said the screening exercise was being conducted as part of the facility’s established security procedures when officers detected the suspicious package.
The substance was allegedly hidden inside a sachet of powdered beverage, a method that authorities said was detected by correctional personnel during the screening.
The officers immediately detained the woman after discovering the suspected contraband.
The incident occurred at about 1:33 p.m. on August 28, according to the correctional service.
The NCoS has not indicated that any other visitor was arrested in connection with the incident.
Son identified as death-row inmate
The woman was reportedly visiting her son, Dare Sowunmi, at the facility when the suspected contraband was discovered.
The NCoS identified Dare as an inmate currently on death row.
However, authorities have not disclosed details about the offence for which he was convicted or the circumstances surrounding his death sentence.
The focus of the current investigation is the alleged attempt to introduce a prohibited substance into the correctional facility.
The alleged drug was intercepted before it could be delivered to the inmate, according to the NCoS.
Investigation to determine next steps
With the suspect now in the custody of the NDLEA, investigators are expected to establish the nature of the substance and determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to take it into the custodial centre.
The outcome of the investigation will determine whether the suspect will face prosecution and under which provisions of Nigerian law.
The allegation against Sowunmi has not been established in court, and she remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The NCoS’s account also underscores the importance of security screening at correctional facilities, particularly where visitors are permitted to bring approved items for inmates.
Security concerns in Nigerian correctional facilities
The attempted introduction of suspected illicit drugs into a custodial facility is a serious security concern for correctional authorities.
Drugs and other prohibited items can undermine order within custodial centres and create additional challenges for officers responsible for maintaining security.
The NCoS has therefore continued to emphasise screening, surveillance and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies as part of efforts to prevent contraband from entering prisons and correctional centres.
The Ibara facility in Abeokuta is one of the correctional institutions operated by the NCoS in Ogun State.
The latest incident is likely to reinforce security checks on visitors and packages entering the facility.
NCoS maintains zero-tolerance position
The Ogun State Command reiterated that it would not tolerate attempts to introduce illicit drugs or other prohibited materials into its facilities.
The command also urged members of the public to comply with established rules whenever they visit inmates.
It warned that attempts to compromise the security of correctional institutions would attract legal consequences.
For now, Sowunmi remains under investigation following her transfer to the NDLEA.
The suspected substance will also form part of the investigation as authorities determine its composition and whether it meets the legal definition of an illicit psychoactive drug.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the security challenges faced by correctional authorities in preventing prohibited substances from reaching inmates.
The Nigerian Correctional Service said its personnel would continue to enforce screening procedures and other security measures to protect the integrity of custodial facilities across the country.
