A woman’s visit to a correctional facility in Ogun State ended in arrest after she was allegedly caught attempting to take a suspected psychoactive substance into the prison for her son, who is on death row.

The woman, identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, during a routine security screening conducted by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

According to the Ogun State Command of the NCoS, the incident occurred at about 1:33 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the main entrance of the custodial centre.

Suspected ‘Colos’ Found During Screening

The correctional officers reportedly discovered a suspicious substance concealed inside a sachet of a popular powdered beverage during the screening exercise.

The substance was suspected to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug, according to the NCoS.

Officials said the package was allegedly intended for Sowunmi’s son, Dare Sowunmi, an inmate at the facility who is currently on death row.

The suspected contraband was intercepted before it could be delivered to the inmate.

The Ogun State Command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Odukoya, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday.

He said the officers detained Sowunmi after detecting the suspicious substance during the screening process.

Mother Handed Over to NDLEA

Following her arrest, Sowunmi was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The NCoS said the transfer was carried out in line with inter-agency procedures, allowing the appropriate agency to investigate the suspected drug and determine the next legal steps.

The NDLEA is expected to establish the nature of the substance and investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt.

NCoS Commends Officers

Reacting to the incident, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers who detected the suspected contraband.

Adesina reaffirmed the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking and the introduction of prohibited items into custodial facilities.

He stressed that correctional centres exist to promote public safety, reformation and rehabilitation, warning that attempts to compromise their security would attract legal consequences.

The command also urged members of the public to comply with security procedures at correctional facilities and warned against attempts to introduce prohibited substances or other contraband into prisons.

Security Challenge

The incident highlights the importance of visitor screening in preventing prohibited substances and other illegal items from reaching inmates.

In this case, the NCoS said routine screening at the Ibara facility led to the discovery of the suspected substance before it could reach the intended recipient.

Sowunmi has since been transferred to the NDLEA, which will investigate the matter and determine the appropriate legal action.

The case remains subject to investigation, while the exact nature of the suspected substance and any criminal liability arising from the alleged attempt will be determined through the appropriate legal process.