By Palma Ileye
Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State, saying the situation has been brought under control.
The Service, in a statement issued yesterday by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Jane Osuji, said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigations conducted by its medical team and the Kano State public health authorities on September 23, 2026.
According to the statement, the outbreak was first detected on September 17 when an inmate presented with vomiting and diarrhoea and was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre.
It said the medical team activated emergency medical protocols the following morning, while intensifying treatment, monitoring and other measures to contain the spread of the disease.
The NCoS, however, disclosed that two inmates died from the outbreak, with one death recorded at the custodial centre and the other at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, expressed condolences over the deaths and directed that all necessary measures be sustained to protect the health and welfare of inmates and personnel.
The Service said no further death had been recorded since the outbreak was confirmed, adding that additional preventive measures had been introduced in collaboration with the Kano State Government to prevent future occurrences.
NCoS further disclosed that the Controller-General had directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring.
The Service assured the public that healthcare services remained available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel, while disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical response were being strengthened in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health, dignity and welfare of persons in custody in line with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and established correctional standards.
