A mother of a death-row inmate has been arrested at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after correctional officers intercepted a suspected psychoactive drug allegedly concealed inside a sachet of Milo beverage powder.
The woman, identified as Mrs. Iyabo Sowunmi, was apprehended on Friday, August 28, 2026, during routine screening at the main entrance of the custodial facility.
The substance discovered during the screening was suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug.
According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the substance was being taken into the facility for Dare Sowunmi, an inmate currently on death row. The service also confirmed that Iyabo Sowunmi is the inmate’s mother.
The Ogun State Command spokesperson of the NCoS, Odukoya Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday.
Olayinka said the suspicious substance was detected at about 1:33 p.m. when correctional officers subjected the items being brought into the facility to routine security checks.
“At approximately 1:33 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, 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.
“The suspect was attempting to deliver the package to an inmate, Dare Sowunmi, who is currently on death row,” the NCoS said.
Following the discovery, Sowunmi was taken into custody and later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
The incident has again raised questions over attempts to introduce prohibited substances and other contraband into custodial facilities, particularly the Ibara centre, which has recently been at the centre of controversy over alleged security breaches.
The NCoS said the latest interception demonstrated the importance of stringent screening procedures at custodial facilities and warned that individuals attempting to compromise prison security would face legal consequences.
The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Kamoru Adesina, commended the officers involved in detecting the suspected drug.
He reiterated that the correctional service maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and other illegal activities capable of undermining security within custodial centres.
“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. Attempts to introduce contraband into our facilities will be met with swift legal action,” Adesina said, according to the NCoS spokesperson.
The command subsequently urged members of the public to respect the rules governing custodial institutions, stressing that anyone caught attempting to smuggle prohibited items into correctional facilities would be dealt with according to the law.
The latest development comes shortly after the Ibara custodial centre attracted nationwide attention following revelations that a death-row inmate had allegedly been conducting TikTok live broadcasts from inside his cell.
The inmate, Elijah Oyebode, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, was reportedly found to have used smuggled smartphones to conduct live sessions on TikTok, solicit monetary gifts and place bets on sporting events while in custody.
An investigative report exposing the activities triggered public outrage and renewed concerns about how prohibited devices and other contraband could find their way into a highly secured custodial facility.
Following the revelations, the NCoS removed the Officer-in-Charge of the facility and two other senior officials from their positions.
Oyebode was subsequently transferred to another custodial centre where enhanced security and monitoring measures were reportedly introduced.
The arrest of the mother of another death-row inmate over the alleged attempt to bring a suspected psychoactive substance into the same facility has now added another layer to the controversy surrounding security breaches and contraband smuggling at the Ibara centre.
The development is also expected to intensify scrutiny of the screening procedures used to inspect food, beverages, personal belongings and other items brought by visitors into custodial facilities.
For the NCoS, however, the interception and arrest underscore its stated commitment to preventing drugs and other prohibited items from entering its facilities, while the NDLEA is expected to investigate the substance and determine the appropriate legal action against the suspect.