Woman arrested over alleged alcohol smuggling

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By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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ABEOKUTA — The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ogun State Command, has arrested a woman identified as Shobowale Balikis for allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol concealed in a bottled-water pack into the Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta.

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The command’s Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

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According to Odukoya, correctional officers intercepted Balikis at about 3:50 p.m. on Saturday while she was allegedly attempting to take the substance into the facility for an inmate.

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He said the substance, identified as “Ethano”, was concealed inside a bottled-water pack in an attempt to disguise it as drinking water.

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Odukoya said: “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.

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“She was caught concealing Ethano inside a bottled-water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate.”

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The NCoS spokesman said the substance was detected before it could reach the inmates, adding that Balikis had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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He said the swift intervention of the correctional officers prevented the substance from reaching the inmate population.

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The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, described the incident as another indication of the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards the smuggling of contraband into custodial facilities.

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According to the statement, Adesina said the command remained committed to maintaining safety, discipline and integrity within its custodial centres.

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He added that the service would continue to protect inmates, preserve order and uphold the rule of law.

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The command also assured members of the public that it would intensify efforts to prevent the infiltration of contraband into custodial facilities and safeguard the integrity of the correctional system.

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The incident came weeks after a similar case at the same facility.

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The NCoS had on August 31, 2026, announced the arrest of a woman identified as Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta.

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Sowunmi was reportedly arrested during a routine screening at the facility’s main entrance at about 1:33 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026.

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The suspected drugs were allegedly intended for her son, Dare Sowunmi, who was said to be on death row at the facility.

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