How Did a Death Row Inmate Go Live From a Nigerian Prison?

 

A prison is supposed to be the place where freedom ends, not where content creation begins. Yet somehow, in Nigeria, an inmate on death row reportedly found enough comfort to build a social media presence, host TikTok live sessions, interact with followers and even receive virtual gifts while serving the highest sentence under the law. If this sounds like satire, unfortunately it is not. Sometimes reality simply decides to compete with comedy and wins effortlessly.

Nigeria's Correctional Service has now removed the Officer in Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other principal officers after a viral TikTok livestream exposed what officials described as a serious breach of prison security. The inmate at the centre of the controversy is Elijah Oyebode, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 after being convicted of murdering Rofiat Adebisi, a final year student of Osun State University. Court records showed that he gave conflicting accounts before eventually denying involvement, but the court found him guilty based on medical and other evidence.

Yet while many people outside prison struggle to grow a social media audience, the condemned inmate allegedly managed to remain active on TikTok from inside custody. One of the accounts linked to him reportedly reached Level 20 gifting status, allowing viewers to send him monetary gifts during livestreams. Investigators also alleged that he operated another account used to impersonate a popular TikTok creator and activist. Somewhere between prison regulations and social media algorithms, someone clearly forgot to lock the right door.

According to the Nigerian Correctional Service, preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate unlawfully possessed a prohibited mobile phone which he allegedly used to access social media while behind bars. Officials said the device has now been recovered during a search operation and secured as evidence as investigations continue. The Service described the incident as a serious violation of custodial regulations and an unacceptable compromise of prison security.

Authorities have since transferred Oyebode to another correctional facility where he is being held under enhanced security pending the outcome of the investigation. At the same time, the Officer in Charge of the custodial centre and two other senior officers have been relieved of their duties while the investigation proceeds. The prison authorities insist they are determined to identify everyone responsible for the security lapse and ensure accountability.

The entire episode has left many Nigerians asking uncomfortable questions about oversight inside correctional facilities. If a death row inmate can allegedly go live, build followers, collect gifts and maintain multiple social media accounts from prison, then perhaps the smartphone was not the only thing that escaped supervision. It is difficult to explain how someone awaiting execution allegedly enjoyed better internet engagement than many law abiding citizens. Sometimes the biggest prison break is not climbing over the wall. It is simply finding good network coverage behind it.