MOTHER’S LOVE OR A DANGEROUS ACT? Woman Arrested Allegedly Smuggling ‘Colos’ to Son on Death Row

How far can a mother go for her son?

That question has been brought into sharp focus following the arrest of a woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, who allegedly attempted to smuggle a substance suspected to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic drug, into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mrs Sowunmi was reportedly arrested at about 1:33pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, during routine screening at the main entrance of the custodial facility.

According to the Ogun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the suspected substance was cleverly concealed inside a sachet of a popular beverage powder, allegedly in an attempt to deliver it to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is reportedly on death row.

The Command’s spokesperson, Olayinka Odukoya, said correctional officers detected the suspicious package during the screening process and immediately detained Mrs Sowunmi.

The suspect was subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution, in line with inter-agency operational procedures.

The Controller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Abioye Adesina, commended the officers for their vigilance and reiterated the Service’s zero-tolerance policy towards the introduction of drugs and other contraband into custodial facilities.

He also warned that anyone attempting to compromise the security of correctional centres would face the full force of the law.

MOTHERLY LOVE — OR A STEP TOO FAR?

There is no denying that a mother's love for her child can be extraordinarily powerful. Even when a son has fallen on the wrong side of the law, a mother may still see him first as her child.

But does maternal love justify putting contraband in the hands of a convicted inmate — particularly one on death row?

That is the uncomfortable question raised by this incident.

If the allegation is established, what began as an act supposedly motivated by love could ultimately become a serious criminal offence, with consequences for both mother and son.

A custodial centre is not merely a place where inmates are kept away from society. It is also a highly controlled environment where the introduction of illicit drugs can have serious implications for security, discipline and the welfare of other inmates.

Perhaps Mrs Sowunmi believed she was helping her son.

But sometimes, love without wisdom can become another form of harm.

And in this case, the question remains:

Was it really a mother's love — or a dangerous act of misplaced loyalty?

The answer, however, will ultimately depend on the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.