The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Kano State Command, has arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly attempting to smuggle a substance suspected to be Indian hemp into the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kurmawa, Kano.
The suspect was apprehended on Sunday following an intervention by security personnel stationed at the correctional facility.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSC Musbahu Kofarnassarawa.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at approximately noon when the suspect allegedly attempted to throw the suspected illicit substance into the custodial centre.
Kofarnassarawa identified the suspect as a resident of Janguza Quarters in Kano, explaining that officers attached to the Armed Squad Unit detected the attempt and immediately intervened.
He attributed the arrest to the vigilance and swift response of the officers, who were operating under the supervision of the unit’s commander, CSC Usman M. Sale.
Following the arrest, the suspect was transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and appropriate action.
The command did not disclose the quantity of the suspected substance or whether the suspect had intended to deliver it to a particular inmate.
Reacting to the incident, the Controller of Corrections in Kano State, Ahmed Yusuf-Lakpene, praised the personnel involved for their professionalism and commitment to protecting the facility.
He described their response as consistent with the command’s determination to prevent prohibited materials from entering custodial centres.
Yusuf-Lakpene reiterated that the Nigerian Correctional Service would not tolerate attempts to compromise security through the introduction of illegal drugs or other unauthorised items.
He also warned members of the public against engaging in activities capable of undermining the safety and orderly administration of correctional facilities.
The controller stressed that preventing the circulation of prohibited substances within custodial centres remained an important aspect of maintaining discipline and supporting inmate rehabilitation.
He urged individuals who might contemplate similar actions to desist, noting that the command remained committed to enforcing security regulations.
Yusuf-Lakpene further reaffirmed the service’s resolve to strengthen surveillance and other protective measures across correctional facilities in Kano State.
According to him, maintaining a secure custodial environment is essential to achieving the correctional system’s objectives of reformation and rehabilitation.
The arrest highlights the continued responsibility of correctional officers to monitor activities around custodial facilities and respond to suspected security breaches.
Meanwhile, the suspect remains subject to investigation by the NDLEA, which is expected to determine the nature of the seized substance and any further action warranted by its findings.
The NCoS maintained that it would continue working to prevent the introduction of prohibited materials into facilities under its supervision.
Ezeana Emmanuel
