The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that a cholera outbreak at the Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kano State has been brought under control after two inmates died during the incident.
The Service said the outbreak was confirmed through laboratory investigations conducted on September 23, 2026, by its medical team in collaboration with Kano State public health authorities.
According to the NCoS, the first suspected case was detected on September 17 after an inmate developed vomiting and diarrhoea. The inmate was immediately admitted to the facility’s medical centre for treatment, while emergency medical protocols were activated the following morning.
The Service said medical personnel subsequently intensified treatment, monitoring and disease-control measures at the facility.
Despite the interventions, two inmates died during the outbreak. The NCoS said one of the deaths occurred at the custodial centre, while the second was recorded at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital.
The Service, however, said no additional deaths had been recorded since the outbreak was laboratory-confirmed and described the situation as contained following coordinated medical interventions.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, was reportedly briefed about the outbreak and directed that additional measures be sustained to protect inmates and correctional personnel.
Nwakuche also expressed condolences over the deaths and ordered the strengthening of disease surveillance, early detection and prompt medical response in custodial facilities in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.
The Controller-General further directed a team of senior medical personnel from the NCoS National Headquarters to proceed to the Kano facility for continued monitoring and medical support.
The Service said it was working with the Kano State Government to maintain preventive measures and reduce the possibility of further transmission.
The development follows concerns over health conditions at the facility after Amnesty International Nigeria had previously raised an alarm over reported deaths among inmates and called for urgent intervention. The NCoS’s laboratory-confirmed account, however, puts the number of deaths linked to the cholera outbreak at two.
The NCoS said healthcare services remain available to persons in custody through qualified medical personnel and that disease surveillance and rapid response mechanisms are being strengthened across its facilities.
The Service also urged members of the public to rely on verified information from official sources as monitoring continues.