Inmates Freed As Gunmen Attack Prison, Police Headquarters In Imo

There is pandemonium in Imo in the early hours of Monday, April 5, as unknown gunmen reportedly attacked the federal prison and police command headquarters in Owerri, the state capital.

VAM News gathered that some inmates in the prison were said to have been broken free by the gunmen.

The police headquarters and some vehicles parked in the vicinity were also allegedly set ablaze by the gunmen.

Owerri prison and police investigations department were set ablaze by unknown gunmen, many prisoners freed. Photo source: @Real_AmakaIke Source: Twitter

The Punch in its report of the incident put the number of freed prison inmates at "over 1500".

According to the newspaper, the gunmen freed the suspects in almost all the cells at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

An anonymous security source was cited as saying the hoodlums sang solidarity songs at the Government House roundabout for about 30 minutes before attacking the facilities.

They reportedly broke the prison facility with the aid of explosives and dynamite.

Police confirm attack

The police spokesperson in Imo state, Orlando Ikeokwu, has confirmed the attacks, The Punch added. He, however, assured the people of the state that the security agencies were on top of the matter.