Woman Arrested for Alleged Drug Smuggling Attempt at Ogun PrisonThe request was rejected because it was considered high risk

A woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into a Nigerian prison for her son, who is on death row, in an incident that highlights ongoing security concerns at the facility. The arrest occurred on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The suspect, identified as Iyabo Sowunmi, was apprehended at approximately 1:33 p.m. during routine screening at the prison's main entrance. According to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, officers detected a substance suspected to be Colos, a psychoactive synthetic drug, concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder. The package was allegedly intended for her son, Dare Sowunmi, an inmate at the facility who is currently on death row.

The command's spokesperson, Olayinka Odukoya, confirmed the arrest in a statement. Following the interception, Mrs. Sowunmi was immediately detained and later handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution. The Controller of Corrections for the Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers for their vigilance and adherence to...