Security Shake-up: NCoS Destroys 1,167 Confiscated Phones, Recovers N2.5m from Inmates

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has carried out a large-scale destruction of prohibited items seized from various Custodial Centres across the federation, signaling a decisive move to restore discipline and national security.

Speaking during the exercise on Tuesday in Abuja, the Controller General of the NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, emphasized that the destruction of these electronics and unauthorised materials was a clear statement of the Service’s resolve to eliminate threats to the integrity of the nation’s custodial system.

The items destroyed were recovered over the last eight months through targeted operations. The haul included:

1,167 Mobile Phones: A mix of iPhones, Android devices, and button phones.

Accessories: Various SIM cards, earpieces, and chargers.

Cash: A total of N2,569,000 in smuggled and trafficked currency.

In compliance with financial regulations, the confiscated cash has been paid directly into the appropriate government treasury.

Breaking the “Insider-Outsider” Collusion
CG Nwakuche identified a dangerous synergy between inmates, external collaborators, and compromised personnel as the primary source of the contraband. He noted that items are often smuggled through concealment in food and clothing.

“Anyone who engages in the smuggling of contraband into our facilities, whether as a visitor, contractor, or collaborator, will face severe consequences,” Nwakuche warned. He revealed that several individuals have already been handed over to the Police and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.

The Controller General credited these recoveries to the newly established Special Crack Team, a dedicated unit focused on intelligence gathering and targeted enforcement outside of routine security structures. He noted that their work is essential to the Service’s core mandate of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

Nwakuche expressed deep appreciation to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose leadership and commitment to internal security reforms have been instrumental to the Service’s recent progress.

He reaffirmed the NCoS’s commitment to transparency and public trust.