Woman Caught Smuggling Alcohol Disguised as Bottled Water to Inmate at Ibara Prison
A seemingly ordinary pack of bottled water has become the centre of another security incident at the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after Correctional Officers intercepted a woman allegedly attempting to use it to smuggle ethanol into the facility.
The woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, was arrested at about 3:50 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, during routine security checks at the custodial centre.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, the officers became suspicious of the package and discovered that a substance believed to be ethanol had been concealed inside a bottled-water pack and disguised as ordinary drinking water intended for an inmate.
The Officers’ intervention reportedly prevented the substance from getting into the hands of inmates.
Odukoya disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the suspect was intercepted while allegedly attempting to introduce contraband into the facility.
He said Balikis had subsequently been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation, with possible legal proceedings expected to follow.
The incident has once again placed the spotlight on the continuing battle by correctional authorities to stop prohibited substances and other contraband from finding their way into custodial facilities.
The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Kamoru Adesina, reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards the smuggling of contraband.
Adesina said the latest interception demonstrated the vigilance of correctional officers and the commitment of the service to maintaining safety, discipline, order and integrity within custodial facilities.
He maintained that the service would continue to strengthen its security procedures and prevent activities capable of compromising the safety of inmates, correctional personnel and the wider society.
Not the first contraband scare at Ibara
Global Mirror News reports that the latest incident is not the first time in recent weeks that a visitor has allegedly attempted to take prohibited substances into the Ibara facility.
On August 28, 2026, another woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, was arrested during routine screening at the same custodial centre over an alleged attempt to smuggle a suspected psychoactive substance to an inmate.
The Nigerian Correctional Service said the substance, suspected to be the synthetic drug popularly known as “Colos,” was allegedly concealed inside a sachet of beverage powder.
Sowunmi was reportedly attempting to deliver the package to Dare Sowunmi, identified by the authorities as her son and an inmate on death row at the facility.
Following her arrest, she was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for investigation and possible prosecution.
The two incidents, occurring within a matter of weeks, have highlighted the difficulty correctional authorities face in keeping prohibited substances away from inmates despite routine screening of visitors and packages.
Ibara facility had earlier faced security questions
The latest arrests also come against the backdrop of a major security controversy involving the Ibara Custodial Centre.
An investigation published earlier in August by Nigerian Tribune and Premium Times reported that Elijah Oyebode, a convicted murderer on death row at the facility, had allegedly been able to conduct TikTok livestreams from inside the prison.
The investigation reported that the inmate interacted with people outside the facility and received monetary gifts through the social media platform.
The development prompted the Nigerian Correctional Service to acknowledge a serious custodial security breach.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Custodial Centre and two other principal officers were subsequently removed from their positions, while the inmate was transferred to another facility under enhanced security, according to reports.
The Service also said a prohibited mobile phone reportedly used by the inmate had been recovered and secured as an exhibit for further investigation.
Security checks under renewed scrutiny
Against this background, the arrest of Balikis shows how visitors and items entering the facility remain a critical part of custodial security.
What appeared to be a simple pack of bottled water, according to the correctional authorities, allegedly concealed ethanol intended for an inmate.
The detection means the substance did not reach the inmate population, but the incident has reinforced the need for continued vigilance at entry points and strict compliance with regulations governing visitors and packages brought into custodial centres.
For the Nigerian Correctional Service, the challenge extends beyond keeping inmates within the walls of the facility. Authorities must also prevent the movement of prohibited substances, mobile phones and other unauthorised items into the prison environment.
For members of the public visiting inmates, the developments serve as a reminder that attempts to conceal prohibited items can result in arrest and referral to law enforcement agencies.
As of the latest available information, Balikis remained subject to investigation, and no conviction had been reported in connection with the allegation.
Her arrest and the allegation against her should therefore not be taken as proof of guilt until the appropriate investigative and judicial processes are concluded.
Global Mirror News will continue to monitor the case and bring readers updates on the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
