Drug Smugglers Busted at Akure Prison with Hemp in Tomatoes

Officers at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Akure, Ondo State, thwarted a brazen attempt to smuggle Indian hemp into the facility on January 13, 2026.​ Two visitors, Isaac Nimjul from Langtang North and Jennifer Yaro from Jos South in Plateau State, arrived pretending to carry fresh tomatoes for an inmate but were caught after a routine search exposed the contraband.​

Incident Details

Vigilant correctional officers at the gate lodge conducted a thorough examination of the tomatoes, uncovering small sachets of Indian hemp—totaling about 4 grams—neatly wrapped in watertight nylon and hidden in the produce’s fluffy crevices.​ The suspects intended to pass the illicit substance to a prisoner inside the Olokuta facility, but their plan unraveled due to the officers’ professionalism.​

Official Response

Chief Superintendent of Corrections Oyewole Akinwumi, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests in a statement, noting the suspects were immediately handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for investigation and prosecution.​ This action aligns with directives from Controller-General Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche emphasizing watertight security at custodial centres nationwide.​

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Command’s Stance

Controller of Corrections for Ondo State, CC Oyewole Charles (JP), praised the officers’ alertness and reaffirmed the Nigerian Correctional Service’s commitment to secure, humane facilities free of drug trafficking.​ The Command warned visitors against compromising facility safety, vowing zero tolerance for such breaches.