Abuja: The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has destroyed large confiscated items from various custodial centres across the nation. Speaking during the destruction exercise on Tuesday in Abuja, the Controller General, NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, said that the prohibited items which include phones and other electronic devices were considered contraband for inmates in custody.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nwakuche stated that the exercise was not merely about the destruction of contraband, but a clear statement of resolve that the NCoS would decisively confront and eliminate all threats to the security, order, and integrity of the custodial centres. He emphasized this initiative as part of a sustained and deliberate effort to restore order and reinforce the true purpose of the nation’s custodial system, which includes reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
He added that every item destroyed represented a step toward a more secure and credible correctional system. “Before you, are prohibited items recovered from custodial centres across the country within the last eight months,” he noted. “These include mobile phones, SIM cards, and other unauthorised materials. Their presence within our facilities is unacceptable. They compromise security, disrupt discipline, and create channels through which criminal activities are sustained from within custody.”
Nwakuche elaborated that a total of 1,167 mobile phones, comprising android devices, iPhones, and button phones alongside various earpieces, chargers, and other unauthorised materials were destroyed. Additionally, smuggled and trafficked cash totaling N2,569,000 confiscated from inmates during these operations has been paid into the appropriate government treasury, in line with financial regulations. “These recoveries underscore both the scale of the challenge and the seriousness of our response,” he remarked.
The NCoS boss highlighted that the problem of illicit drug trafficking and prohibited items was not sustained by internal actors alone. There were individuals outside the custodial centres who exploit weaknesses by smuggling prohibited items through concealment in food, clothing, and other means. “This collusion between insiders and outsiders is what we are determined to break completely and permanently,” Nwakuche stated.
He warned that anyone involved in smuggling contraband into facilities, be it a visitor, contractor, or collaborator, will face severe consequences. “These acts are not minor infractions; they are deliberate attempts to undermine national security and the administration of justice,” he stressed. Nwakuche revealed that several individuals have been apprehended during these illegal activities, with many handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
In response to this threat, Nwakuche announced the establishment of a dedicated Special Crack Team by the NCoS. This team, distinct from routine security structures, intensifies intelligence gathering, surveillance, and targeted enforcement. “The recoveries you see today are a direct result of their efforts, supported by collaboration with other security agencies,” he acknowledged, commending their professionalism and commitment.
He expressed appreciation to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his leadership and consistent support to the service. Nwakuche credited the minister’s commitment to strengthening internal security and advancing reforms as instrumental to the progress made by the service. “We remain aligned with the ministry’s vision and grateful for its continued guidance. I extend my appreciation to our sister security agencies, the media, and all stakeholders for their continued support,” he concluded.