A woman identified as Shobowale Balikis has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle ethanol disguised as bottled drinking water to an inmate at the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The incident occurred at about 3:50 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, when correctional officers intercepted Balikis during a routine search and allegedly discovered ethanol concealed inside a pack of bottled water.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Odukoya Olayinka, confirmed the incident, saying the officers’ intervention prevented the substance from reaching the inmate population.
According to Olayinka, Balikis was intercepted at about 15:50 hours while allegedly attempting to bring the contraband into the custodial centre.
“She was caught concealing ethanol inside a bottled water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate,” Olayinka said.
The PRO disclosed that the suspect had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Kamoru Adesina, reiterated the Service’s zero-tolerance policy towards smuggling and the infiltration of contraband into custodial centres.
Adesina said the interception demonstrated the Service’s commitment to protecting inmates, maintaining order and upholding the rule of law.
He maintained that the latest interception reflected the command’s efforts to safeguard inmates, preserve order and protect the integrity of the correctional system. The command further reiterated that it would sustain measures designed to detect and stop attempts to introduce prohibited substances into its facilities.
Similar Incident Recorded in August
The incident is similar to an earlier case recorded at the same custodial centre in August, when another woman, Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested over an alleged attempt to take suspected illicit drugs to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who was reportedly on death row.
Sowunmi was reportedly intercepted at about 1:33 p.m. on August 28, 2026, while undergoing screening at the centre’s main entrance.
Correctional officers allegedly found a substance suspected to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug, hidden inside a sachet of a popular beverage.
The substance was reportedly intended for Dare Sowunmi, who was being held at the facility.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
