Over 1500 inmates were freed on Monday morning after unknown gunmen attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison in the Imo State capital.

The assailants also destroyed the Imo State Police Command headquarters situated in Owerri and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command headquarters.

The hoodlums freed the suspects in almost all the cells at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

It was gathered that the gunmen operated from 1 am till 3 am on Monday.

 

They sang solidarity songs at the Government House roundabout for about 30 minutes before attacking the facilities, PUNCH reports.

 

On breaking into the prison facility with the aid of explosives and dynamite, the attackers told inmates, “Go home, Jesus has risen. You have no reason to be here.”

 

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attacks.

 

He, however, assured the people of the state that the security agencies were on top of the matter.