The hoodlums reportedly freed prison inmates while they set several vehicles ablaze

The police in the state have confirmed the attacks but assured the residents of the southeastern state that security operatives are on top of the matter

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.

The Cable reported 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.

Over 1500 prison inmates allegedly freed

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.

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.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that there was palpable tension in Imo state following the murder of seven traders of northern extraction.

The victims were reportedly killed in separate shooting incidents in Orlu town and Umuaka in Njaba local government area between Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3.

An eyewitness identified as Harisu Umaru Ishiaku was cited as saying that the killers who were dressed in military uniform stormed the Afor Umuaka market around 8:30pm and attacked the victims.

In other news, the police have arrested 16 members of the IPOB and recovered guns and bombs from them.

It was reported that this was disclosed in a statement released by the spokesperson of the police, Frank Mba, on Sunday, March 27.

The police accused the arrested suspects of being complicit in a series of violent and unprovoked attacks on security operatives and facilities in the southeast region and other states.

Source: Legit.ng