The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has declared all correctional facilities across the country as red zones ahead of Monday’s planned nationwide protest calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Service cautioned members of the public to stay clear of all custodial centres, stressing that prisons remain restricted areas under federal protection and that any unauthorised presence around the premises would be treated as a security threat.
In a public notice issued in Abuja on Sunday, the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, warned that the Service would not tolerate any form of breach or provocation near its facilities.
“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 RED ZONES,” the statement read.
“Correctional facilities are restricted areas. Anyone who has no official business there should stay off to avoid untoward incidents or security breaches. The Service urges all citizens to exercise caution and cooperate with security agencies to ensure a peaceful and safe environment for everyone.”
Abubakar further urged Nigerians to respect security perimeters around correctional facilities, warning that any attempt to infiltrate or disrupt operations at the centres would be met with firm resistance.
The warning comes amid rising tension over the planned nationwide demonstrations by pro-Biafra groups and supporters of Kanu, who has been in detention since June 2021 over charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
Security agencies have since been placed on alert in major cities, including Abuja, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha, where protests are expected to be most intense.
The NCoS reiterated its commitment to safeguarding inmates and ensuring that no form of civil unrest compromises the country’s correctional facilities.
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