Two inmates have died following a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed the deaths in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
According to the Service’s spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji, laboratory tests conducted on September 23 confirmed the outbreak.
The outbreak was first detected on September 17 after an inmate developed symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea. The inmate was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre, while emergency health protocols were activated the following morning.
The NCoS said the outbreak had been brought under control and that no further deaths had been recorded since the diagnosis.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that a recent outbreak of cholera at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kano, has been contained,” the statement said.
The Service said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigations conducted by its medical team at the facility in collaboration with Kano State public health authorities.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, pcc, was immediately briefed and directed that all necessary measures be sustained to protect the health and welfare of inmates and personnel.
The Service said the outbreak claimed two lives—one inmate who died at the custodial centre and another who died at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital.
The Controller-General expressed condolences to the families and colleagues of those who died.
According to the NCoS, medical personnel intensified treatment, monitoring and other emergency interventions after the first case was detected. The coordinated response, it said, helped bring the outbreak under control.
The Service has also introduced additional preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano State Government to reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
It reassured the public that healthcare services remain available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel, while disease surveillance, early detection and prompt response are being strengthened in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.
The Controller-General has further directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to visit the facility for continued monitoring of the situation.
The NCoS reiterated 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.
The Service also urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official channels as it continues to provide updates when necessary.
