A woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, was arrested after correctional officers intercepted her allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol into the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, said officers stopped Balikis at about 15:50 on Saturday and found the substance concealed in a bottled-water pack. The command’s public relations officer, Olayinka Odukoya, said the liquid was disguised as drinking water and identified as “Ethano”.
“At about 15:50 on Saturday, vigilant officials at the Ibara Custodial Centre intercepted a woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, in an attempt to smuggle contraband into the facility,” Odukoya said in a statement reported by the command. “She was caught concealing Ethano inside a bottled-water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate.” Punch, Vanguard.
The command said the substance was detected before it reached the inmate population and that Balikis had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Controller of Corrections for Ogun State, Abioye Adesina, described the incident as consistent with the command’s zero-tolerance stance on contraband. He said the service would continue efforts to protect inmates, preserve order and uphold the rule of law, and to prevent infiltration of contraband into custodial facilities, according to the statement.
The reports noted a similar case at the same facility in late August. The NCoS announced on August 31 that a woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested during routine screening on August 28 after allegedly attempting to bring suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, for her son, who was reported to be on death row at the facility.
Both Punch and Vanguard published the correctional service’s statement and details of the arrest. The NCoS said the swift action of officers prevented the substance from reaching inmates.
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