Mirian Gom 
OGUN, Nigeria – A woman has been arrested at the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol concealed in a bottled water pack to an inmate.
The suspect, identified as Shobowale Balikis, was arrested on Saturday after correctional officers detected what was suspected to be ethanol during a routine search.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Odukoya O. Olayinka, confirmed the arrest in a statement made available to Africa Health Report on Sunday, said the officers detected the substance before it could reach the inmate population and subsequently handed the suspect over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
“At about 15:50 hours on 26th September 2026, vigilant officials at the Ibara Custodial Center intercepted a woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, in an attempt to smuggle contraband into the facility,” he said. “She was caught concealing Ethano inside a bottled water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate.”
The command’s Controller of Corrections, Abioye Kamoru Adesina, reiterated the service’s zero-tolerance policy towards the smuggling of contraband into custodial centres.
Adesina said the interception demonstrated the determination of correctional officers to protect inmates, maintain order and uphold the rule of law.
The command said it would continue measures aimed at preventing the infiltration of contraband into custodial facilities. The latest arrest follows a similar incident at the centre about four weeks ago, when a woman was reportedly arrested while attempting to smuggle a suspected psychoactive substance to her son, who was on death row.
The woman, identified as Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested during routine screening at the prison’s main entrance.
Correctional officers reportedly found a substance concealed in a sachet of Milo beverage powder. The substance was suspected to be “Colos”, a psychoactive synthetic drug.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
