Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other senior officers, following a viral TikTok livestream by a death row inmate from inside the facility. The unprecedented security breach, which sparked widespread public outrage, has prompted the NCoS to launch a full-scale investigation and a nationwide security review of all custodial centres across the country.
The inmate, Elijah Oyebode, who was convicted of the 2016 murder of Rofiat Damilola Adebisi, was confirmed to have been in unlawful possession of a prohibited mobile phone, which he used to access social media while in lawful custody. According to a statement issued on Thursday, August 6, 2026, by the Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, ordered the immediate removal of the affected officers pending the conclusion of an internal investigation. The Service described the action as "without prejudice to the final outcome of the investigation" and said it was intended to ensure "a transparent, impartial and unhindered investigative process."
Preliminary findings confirmed that the device used by the inmate has since been recovered following a search operation and secured as an exhibit for further investigation. Oyebode has been transferred to another custodial facility, where he is being held under enhanced security pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations. The NCoS disclosed that initial findings also uncovered security gaps that may have facilitated the breach, prompting immediate disciplinary action against senior officials at the facility.
The Controller-General warned that anyone found to have "facilitated, aided, condoned or failed in their responsibilities in connection with this incident will face appropriate disciplinary and administrative sanctions in accordance with extant regulations." The Service also noted that investigations were ongoing into the possible involvement, negligence or complicity of any officer, inmate or external collaborator connected to the breach.
However, the NCoS press release did not address several findings documented in the Nigerian Tribune investigation that first exposed the incident. Oyebode had stated on a monitored TikTok Live session on April 16, 2026, that the facility houses over 2,000 smartphones among approximately 1,000 inmates, a ratio of more than two devices per inmate. The Service's press release refers only to a single prohibited device and does not address Oyebode's claims that correctional officers smuggle devices into the facility for payment, extort inmates to return seized phones, and escort wealthy inmates outside the facility to private residences and hotels. The drug economy described by Oyebode, in which drugs are trafficked into the facility through officer-mediated supply chains generating margins of up to ₦2 million per consignment, was also not referenced in the press release.
The development has prompted renewed enforcement of ongoing security reforms aimed at preventing the entry of unauthorised items into custodial centres nationwide. The NCoS said the incident had reinforced the need for the full implementation of these reforms and directed intensified compliance across all commands and custodial centres. The Service commended the vigilance of members of the public and the media in bringing the matter to national attention, while appealing against speculation as investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the TikTok account linked to Oyebode, @ayola.oluwafu, disappeared from the platform on August 4, 2026, three days after the publication of the investigation. The platform has not confirmed whether it removed the account or explained the circumstances of its disappearance. A formal follow-up inquiry sent to TikTok's Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, Keagile Makgoba, remained unanswered as of the time of this report.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has reiterated its commitment to strengthening security, professionalism and accountability across all custodial facilities, assuring Nigerians that measures were being intensified to prevent a recurrence. As the investigation continues, the Service has made it clear that anyone found responsible for the breach will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
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