The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and two other principal officers over a security breach involving a death row inmate who allegedly accessed a prohibited mobile phone and used social media from custody.
The action, announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, followed public outrage over a viral TikTok live session reportedly linked to the inmate, which raised concerns over security controls in Nigeria’s correctional facilities.
In a statement issued by the Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji, on behalf of the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, the NCoS described the incident as a serious breach of custodial security and a violation of operational regulations.
The Service said preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate unlawfully possessed a prohibited mobile device, which was allegedly used to access social media while serving his sentence.
The phone has since been recovered and secured as evidence, while the inmate has been transferred to another correctional facility under enhanced security arrangements pending the outcome of investigations.
The NCoS said preliminary findings revealed security lapses that may have contributed to the breach, leading to the removal of the facility’s Officer-in-Charge and two other senior officers.
It stressed that the administrative action was not a final determination of culpability but was intended to ensure an impartial investigation.
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Investigators are also examining possible negligence, involvement or collaboration by correctional personnel, inmates or external individuals connected to the incident.
The Service warned that anyone found responsible for compromising custodial security would face appropriate sanctions.
The development followed an investigative report published on August 1, 2026, which alleged that death row inmate Elijah Oyebode operated social media accounts from the Ibara facility.
Oyebode, who was sentenced to death by hanging over the 2016 murder of Rofiat Damilola Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University, was alleged to have hosted TikTok live sessions and interacted with online followers while in custody.
The report triggered nationwide debate over security lapses in custodial centres and renewed scrutiny of efforts to prevent prohibited items, particularly mobile phones, from entering correctional facilities.
Days after the report, the TikTok account reportedly linked to Oyebode, @ayola.oluwafu, became unavailable, although it was unclear whether it was removed by the platform, disabled by authorities or deleted by the account owner.
The NCoS said investigations into the breach were ongoing, assuring Nigerians that measures were being strengthened to close security gaps and uphold accountability across custodial facilities nationwide.