Imo Prison break: Over 4000 inmates released, only 4 stayed back

….No official statement from police 14 hours after..

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Owerri, Imo State Nigerian Correctional Services facilities (Prisons) and the Nigeria Police Headquarters, in the state that came under heavy attack from 1:00am Monday morning saw over 4,000 inmates released, Owerri residents have said.

The attack which lasted for three hours with clear indication that only 4 inmates refused to escape and have remained in the facility at the moment.

The facility which is officially designed to house 548 inmates, according to official statement has 1,700 inmates, wheras inside sources said the facility has more than 4,000 inmates.

Reports reaching Nations Update from Owerri residents revealed the hoodlums had heavy exchange of fire with security men at both the prisons and the police headquarters before they succumbed to superior power of the gunmen.

They eventually bombed and set the areas on fire, destroying cars and properties.

Sources said that the attackers who were over 200 in number, had gathered at the popular Imo State university junction (IMSU) Sunday night from where they moved down to the prisons and the police headquarters all located in the same area within the government house Owerri to unleash the terror.

Residents said the prisons area was cordoned off on Sunday, as security men in the state capital were at the same time seen moving around the state in demonstration of show of force.

It has been gathered that while the attackers were on their way out of the state, after the mayhem, they attacked soldiers at a military checkpoint on the Owerri – Onitsha expressway at a place called Ukwu Oji.

Imo residents have expressed worry that over 14 hours after the attack, no official statements from the police to at least re-assure them of their safety.

Calls and text message from Nation Update to the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Orland Ikokwu, has not been responded to as at the time of filling this report.

The cases of attack on securitymen and formations in the Southeast have become one too many, with the recent Owerri attack that has not only witnessed loss of lives of security officers and seizure of arms, but has seen the release of criminals most of whom have no other life to live than criminality released into the state, Southeast and the country at large.