A cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State has claimed two lives, forcing the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to intensify medical surveillance and emergency health measures at the facility.
The Service, in a statement on Saturday, said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigation on September 23, 2026, following the detection of suspected cases among inmates.
One of the victims died at the custodial centre, while the second died at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital, according to the press statement by the spokesperson of NCoS, Jane Osuji.
The outbreak was first detected on September 17 when an inmate developed vomiting and diarrhoea, symptoms commonly associated with cholera. The inmate was immediately admitted and treated at the centre’s medical facility.
Osuji noted that by the following morning, the NCoS medical team had activated emergency response protocols, stepped up treatment and intensified monitoring of inmates and personnel.
She added that the coordinated intervention has brought the outbreak under control, with no further deaths recorded since the diagnosis.
The development, however, has prompted the Service to sustain enhanced disease surveillance and preventive measures in collaboration with the Kano State Government and public health authorities.
According to her, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, who was immediately briefed on the outbreak, directed that all necessary measures be maintained to protect inmates and correctional personnel.
Nwakuche also expressed condolences over the deaths, while directing senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for continued monitoring.
The deployment is expected to strengthen surveillance, ensure prompt identification of any new cases and support the medical team already operating at the centre.
The NCoS said it had also initiated additional preventive measures with the Kano State Government to reduce the risk of further transmission and prevent a recurrence.
The outbreak raises fresh concerns about the vulnerability of custodial facilities to infectious diseases, particularly where large numbers of people live within confined environments.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. Without rapid treatment, severe cases can result in life-threatening dehydration and death.
The NCoS, however, said healthcare services remained available across custodial facilities through qualified medical personnel, adding that disease surveillance, early detection and rapid medical response were being strengthened in partnership with relevant public-health authorities.
The Service further reaffirmed its obligation to safeguard the health, dignity and welfare of persons in custody in accordance with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and established correctional standards.
It urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official channels as monitoring of the Kurmawa facility continues.
