The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has strongly denied reports published in a tabloid newspaper claiming that 26,000 children are being held in custodial centres across Nigeria.

The denial came on Wednesday following a publication on June 2, 2025, which alleged widespread incarceration of minors in correctional facilities nationwide.

NCoS National Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, dismissed the report as "false and baseless," emphasizing that the Service does not admit children into custodial centres in compliance with national and international legal standards.

"The Service categorically refutes this baseless and unfounded report and views it as a gross misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading the public and undermining the credibility of the Service," Umar stated.

Legal Framework for Juvenile Justice in Nigeria

According to the law establishing the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Child Rights Act of 2003, any individual below the age of 18 is classified as a child and must be handled under a separate juvenile justice system rather than being placed in standard custodial facilities.

This legal framework ensures that minors who come in conflict with the law receive appropriate care and rehabilitation services designed specifically for their age group, separate from adult offenders.

The NCoS statement reflects Nigeria's commitment to upholding children's rights and maintaining appropriate standards in its correctional system, despite challenges faced by the institution in other areas.

BenriNews reached out to child rights advocates who confirmed that while there are concerns about Nigeria's juvenile justice system, the figure of 26,000 incarcerated children appears to be significantly inflated and unsupported by available data.