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A death row inmate sparked nationwide outrage after illegally using a prohibited mobile phone to host a viral TikTok livestream from inside Ibara Custodial Centre.
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The Controller-General of Corrections ordered the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge and two senior officers as part of emergency measures to restore accountability.
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The illicit mobile phone has been recovered, the inmate transferred to another correctional facility under enhanced security, and a far-reaching investigation launched.
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NCoS warns that any officer, inmate, or external collaborator found to have facilitated the security breach will face stiff disciplinary and administrative sanctions.
August 07, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has launched a sweeping crackdown after a death row inmate at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State, illegally used a mobile phone to host a viral TikTok livestream from inside prison, exposing what authorities described as a serious breach of custodial security.
The incident has triggered the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge of the custodial centre and two other principal officers, while a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine how the prohibited device found its way into the hands of a condemned inmate.
In a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, J.N. Osuji, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, described the incident as a grave violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, Service Standing Orders, and other extant regulations governing custodial operations.
According to the statement, preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate unlawfully possessed a prohibited mobile phone, which he used to access social media while in lawful custody, culminating in the widely circulated TikTok livestream that drew national attention.
The Service disclosed that the device has since been recovered during a search operation and secured as evidence, while the inmate has been transferred to another custodial facility where he is being held under enhanced security pending the conclusion of investigations.
Officers Removed As Probe Widens
In one of the strongest disciplinary actions taken by the Service in recent times, the Controller-General directed the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Custodial Centre, alongside two other principal officers.
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The NCoS explained that the administrative action was taken to guarantee a transparent, impartial, and unhindered investigation and should not be interpreted as a final determination of culpability.
Investigators are now examining whether negligence, complicity, or deliberate collaboration by correctional personnel, inmates, or external actors enabled the smuggling of the prohibited device into the facility.
The Service vowed that anyone found to have facilitated, aided, condoned, or failed in their official responsibilities would face appropriate disciplinary and administrative sanctions in accordance with extant regulations.
A viral image showing the Ibara Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abeokuta alongside a screenshot of the unauthorised TikTok livestream allegedly conducted by a death row inmate.
Reforms Intensified Amid Public Outrage
The Correctional Service said the incident has further strengthened the resolve of the Controller-General to implement ongoing security reforms aimed at eliminating vulnerabilities within custodial centres and preventing the introduction of prohibited items.
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It noted that preliminary findings have already identified security gaps that may have contributed to the breach, prompting directives for stricter compliance with security protocols across all commands and custodial facilities nationwide.
While appreciating members of the public and the media for drawing attention to the incident, the Service urged Nigerians to avoid speculation while investigations continue.
It reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and institutional integrity, stressing that it remains focused on ensuring the safe, secure, and humane custody of all persons legally committed into its care.
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