Woman arrested over drug smuggling into Ogun prison

A woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to take suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for her son, who is awaiting execution.

The suspect, identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, was intercepted during security checks at the correctional facility on Friday, August 28, 2026.

According to the Nigerian Correctional Service spokesperson in Ogun State, Olayinka Odukoya, the woman was stopped at about 1:33pm during routine screening at the prison entrance.

Odukoya said officers allegedly found a substance suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug, concealed inside a sachet of beverage powder.

The substance was allegedly being taken to Dare Sowunmi, an inmate at the facility who is on death row.

The NCoS spokesman said the discovery prompted officers to detain the suspect before she was transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued by Odukoya on Monday.

Reacting to the arrest, the Ogun State Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, praised the officers involved for detecting the suspected contraband during the screening process.

Adesina reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on attempts to introduce drugs and other prohibited items into custodial centres.

He said the security of correctional facilities remained critical to their mandate of protecting the public while rehabilitating inmates.

The controller warned that individuals who attempt to compromise security at custodial centres would be subjected to appropriate legal action.

The command also urged members of the public to comply with regulations governing visits and other activities within correctional facilities, stressing that security checks would continue to prevent the introduction of prohibited substances and materials.