Security Tightened as NCoS Declares Prisons Restricted Over Nnamdi Kanu Protest

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has warned members of the public to steer clear of all correctional facilities across the country as they have been designated “Red Zones” ahead of the planned nationwide protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, said the directive was a precautionary measure to forestall possible security breaches and ensure public safety during the demonstration.

Abubakar emphasised that correctional centres are restricted areas, warning that anyone found loitering or attempting to gain unauthorised access to such facilities would be treated as a security threat.

“In light of the planned nationwide protest scheduled for Monday, October 20, 2025, calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the public is hereby informed that all correctional centres are declared as Red Zones,” the statement read.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service reiterates that correctional centres are restricted areas and anyone who has no official business therein should stay off to avoid any untoward incidents or security breaches.”

He further urged Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies and maintain peace during the period, noting that the Service remained committed to protecting its facilities, staff, and inmates across the federation.

“The Service urges all citizens to exercise caution and cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and safe environment for everyone. It is equally important to respect restricted areas such as correctional facilities,” Abubakar added.

The warning follows increased mobilisation by groups sympathetic to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in custody since 2021 on charges bordering on treasonable felony.

Protest organisers had earlier announced plans to hold peaceful marches nationwide on Monday to demand his unconditional release.

The planned protest has raised security concerns in several states, particularly in the South-East, where similar demonstrations in the past have turned violent.

Security agencies have since heightened surveillance and patrols around correctional facilities, government buildings, and other critical infrastructure to prevent possible attacks or jailbreak attempts.

It is worth noting that the Nigerian Correctional Service, which manages the nation’s custodial centres, has been on high alert since the 2021 Owerri jailbreak, where hundreds of inmates escaped following an armed attack linked to separatist elements.