Cholera Outbreak Contained at Kano Prison After Two Deaths

The Nigerian Correctional Service announced on Saturday that it had brought under control a cholera outbreak inside Kano State's Kurmawa Medium Security Custodial Centre, following the deaths of two inmates from the disease.¹²⁵

Outbreak and response

The Service stated that laboratory tests conducted jointly by NCoS medical staff and Kano State Public Health officials confirmed the outbreak on September 23, 2026. The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, was immediately briefed and directed that measures be sustained to protect inmates and personnel at the facility.¹²³⁴

Corrections Controller-General Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche was quickly informed and instructed that protective measures for inmates and staff at the facility continue. The Service said one inmate showed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea and was promptly taken in for treatment at the centre's clinic. The next morning, medical staff triggered emergency response procedures and stepped up both treatment and observation of patients.²⁴¹

NCoS spokesperson Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji shared this development in a Saturday statement, stating: "The inmate was immediately admitted and treated at the facility’s medical centre, while emergency medical protocols were activated the following morning as health workers intensified medical intervention and monitoring."⁴²¹

Two deaths, containment

According to the Service, two inmates died from the outbreak—one within the custodial facility and one at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital. It added that no further mortality had been recorded since the diagnosis. "The Service regrets that the outbreak claimed two lives; one at the facility and the other at the Kano State Infectious Diseases Hospital," the NCoS said in the statement.²⁴⁵

The Service reported that joint efforts had successfully curbed the outbreak, and that it was collaborating with the Kano State Government on further preventive steps to lower the chance of additional infections.²⁴⁵¹

The Controller-General ordered a team of senior medics from the Service's national headquarters to travel to the facility to maintain ongoing oversight. "The Controller-General has further directed a team of senior medical personnel from the Service’s National Headquarters to proceed to the facility for sustained monitoring of the situation," the NCoS said.²⁴⁵¹

Assurances to the public

The Service noted that qualified medical staff continued to provide healthcare at custodial facilities, and that efforts to bolster ongoing disease monitoring, early identification and swift medical responses were being reinforced alongside relevant public health bodies. It added that the directive reflected NCoS's dedication to safeguarding the health, dignity and welfare of those in custody, consistent with the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, and recognised correctional norms.²³⁵¹

The Service asked Nigerians to trust only verified information from official sources, expressing appreciation for public concern and pledging continued monitoring and updates.⁴⁵¹³