The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has sanctioned 147 of its personnel over various acts of misconduct, including alleged complicity in the trafficking of contraband into custodial centres across the country.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, describing the move as part of ongoing reforms aimed at tightening discipline and restoring integrity within the service.
As part of the crackdown, the NCoS also destroyed 1,167 mobile phones recovered from inmates and custodial facilities nationwide. The items, which included iPhones, Android devices, button phones, SIM cards, and other prohibited gadgets, were publicly burned at the service headquarters in Abuja.
Nwakuche, who personally supervised the destruction exercise, said the action was necessary to send a strong message that the service would not tolerate any activity capable of undermining security within correctional facilities.
According to him, the presence of such devices in prisons compromises safety, encourages criminal communication, and weakens efforts to reform inmates.
“These are prohibited items recovered from custodial centres across the country within the last eight months,” he said. “Their presence is unacceptable. They undermine discipline and provide channels for criminal activities to continue from within custody.”
He further revealed that ₦2.56 million in cash, allegedly recovered from inmates during operations, had been forfeited and remitted to the appropriate government treasury in line with financial regulations.
The Controller-General stressed that the service’s zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline remains firmly in place, warning that officers found guilty of aiding contraband trafficking or engaging in misconduct would face strict disciplinary action, including dismissal.
Nwakuche noted that the sanctioning of 147 personnel reflects the service’s determination to address internal compromise, which he described as a major enabler of contraband infiltration into correctional facilities.
He added that ongoing reforms would continue to focus on strengthening internal monitoring systems and improving accountability within the correctional service.
