The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has escalated its fight against contraband in custodial centres, publicly destroying 1,167 confiscated mobile phones and other prohibited items in a nationwide enforcement drive.
Controller-General Sylvester Nwakuche, who led the exercise, said the destroyed items included smartphones, iPhones, and basic feature phones recovered during coordinated operations over the past eight months. In addition, authorities seized ₦2.57 million in smuggled cash, which has since been remitted to the federal treasury in line with financial regulations.
Nwakuche described the move as a strong signal of the Service’s determination to restore order and security within correctional facilities. He stressed that the presence of contraband enables criminal activities to continue from within prisons, undermining rehabilitation efforts and posing broader national security risks.
A major concern highlighted during the crackdown is internal compromise. The Controller-General disclosed that 147 correctional officers have already been sanctioned for their involvement in contraband smuggling, warning that any personnel found culpable would face strict legal consequences.
The Service also pointed to external collaborators, including visitors and contractors, who attempt to sneak in prohibited items hidden in food, clothing, and other materials. Several suspects have been apprehended and handed over to law enforcement agencies such as the police and NDLEA for prosecution.
To sustain the crackdown, NCoS has established a Special Crack Team tasked with strengthening intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation. Plans are also underway to deploy modern monitoring technologies across correctional centres.
Overall, the initiative underscores a broader push by authorities to tighten prison security, dismantle illicit networks, and reinforce the core mandate of correctional facilities—reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates into society.
