Two inmates have died following a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed.
The NCoS said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory tests conducted on September 23 by its medical team in collaboration with Kano State public health authorities.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Service’s spokesman, Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji, the outbreak was first detected on September 17 after an inmate developed symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea.
The inmate was immediately admitted to the facility’s medical centre and treated, while emergency medical protocols were activated the following morning. Health workers subsequently intensified medical intervention, monitoring and disease surveillance.
The Service said one of the two deaths occurred at the custodial centre, while the second inmate died at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and directed that measures to protect inmates and correctional personnel be maintained.
The NCoS said its coordinated response had brought the outbreak under control, adding that no further deaths had been recorded since the diagnosis.
Additional preventive measures have also been introduced in collaboration with the Kano State Government to reduce the risk of another outbreak.
The Service said disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical intervention were being strengthened across custodial facilities nationwide.
Nwakuche also directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to visit the facility and continue monitoring the situation.
The NCoS reassured the public that healthcare services remain available to inmates through qualified medical personnel and urged Nigerians to rely on verified information from official channels.
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