The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and redeployed two other senior officers following a security breach that enabled a death-row inmate to conduct a viral TikTok livestream from inside the prison, triggering widespread public outrage and renewed concerns over security in Nigeria’s correctional facilities.
The unprecedented incident, which rapidly spread across social media, has raised troubling questions about the proliferation of contraband mobile phones in custodial centres and the integrity of prison security systems, particularly within facilities housing condemned prisoners and other high-risk inmates.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, described the incident as a grave violation of custodial regulations and ordered sweeping administrative and investigative measures to determine how the condemned inmate gained access to a prohibited mobile phone.
According to the statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji, preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate unlawfully possessed the phone, which was used to access social media while in lawful custody.
The Service said the device has since been recovered during a search operation and secured as evidence, while the inmate has been transferred to another correctional facility under enhanced security pending the conclusion of 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 has ordered the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge of the Custodial Centre, along with two other principal officers, pending the conclusion of investigations,” the statement said.
The Service stressed that the removals were administrative measures designed to guarantee a transparent and impartial investigation and should not be interpreted as a final determination of culpability.
Investigators are now probing whether correctional officers, inmates or external collaborators aided the introduction of the prohibited device into the prison.
The NCoS warned that anyone found to have facilitated, condoned or failed in their responsibilities regarding the incident would face disciplinary and administrative sanctions in accordance with existing regulations.
ECOWAS Chief Hosts Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma in Abuja as Regional Bloc Pushes Dialogue, Stability
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, has received former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma in Abuja, in a high-level engagement that underscores the regional bloc’s continued emphasis on dialogue, institutional cooperation and the preservation of peace in West Africa.
The meeting, held at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, brought together two prominent figures with deep experience in regional governance and diplomacy. It highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relationships with former African leaders as ECOWAS navigates some of the most complex political and security challenges confronting the sub-region.
Koroma, who served as Sierra Leone’s president from 2007 to 2018, remains an influential voice in West African affairs, having led his country through a period of democratic consolidation, post-conflict recovery and economic rebuilding.
His visit to Abuja comes at a time when ECOWAS is seeking to strengthen confidence in regional institutions amid political uncertainties, security threats, democratic setbacks and growing calls for reforms within the bloc.
During the engagement, discussions centred on the importance of continued collaboration, peace-building efforts and the collective responsibility of West African leaders to protect democratic values and regional stability.
The meeting also reinforced the role of experienced statesmen in supporting mediation and conflict-resolution initiatives across Africa, particularly as ECOWAS works to address challenges ranging from unconstitutional changes of government to terrorism, violent extremism and humanitarian crises.
Ernest Bai Koroma’s political journey has been closely linked with Sierra Leone’s transformation following years of civil conflict that ended in 2002. Elected president in 2007 and re-elected in 2012, he oversaw efforts aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, attracting investment and rebuilding national infrastructure.
After leaving office in 2018, Koroma remained active in continental and international discussions on governance, peace and development.
His relationship with ECOWAS gained renewed attention in recent years following political tensions in Sierra Leone. In 2024, the regional organisation played a diplomatic role in facilitating his temporary relocation to Nigeria amid security and political concerns linked to an alleged coup attempt in the country.
That intervention reflected ECOWAS’ broader tradition of preventive diplomacy and its efforts to use dialogue rather than confrontation in resolving political disputes among member states.
The meeting between Touray and Koroma comes as ECOWAS faces one of the most challenging periods in its nearly five-decade history.
The bloc has been confronted with military takeovers in parts of West Africa, strained relations with some member states, growing insecurity in the Sahel, and debates over the future direction of regional integration.
Founded in 1975 to promote economic cooperation and integration among West African nations, ECOWAS has expanded its mandate over the years to include peacekeeping, conflict prevention and democratic governance.
The organisation has historically relied on the influence and experience of former presidents and respected statesmen to mediate crises and encourage political dialogue.
By engaging figures such as Koroma, analysts say ECOWAS is reinforcing its strategy of using regional diplomacy and collective experience to address emerging challenges.
The Abuja meeting sends a strong message of continuity at a time when regional cooperation remains under pressure.
For ECOWAS, maintaining open channels with former leaders is seen as essential to preserving institutional memory and building consensus on issues affecting millions of West Africans.
Koroma’s audience with Touray therefore represents more than a courtesy visit; it reflects the continued importance of diplomacy, trust and collaboration in sustaining peace and stability in a region undergoing profound political and security changes.
As West Africa confronts a new era of uncertainty, ECOWAS’ engagement with experienced leaders signals a renewed push to keep dialogue at the centre of regional solutions.
