Free1,844 prison inmates,s ets state, and divisional police headquarters ablaze.

Palpable fear engulfed Owerri, the entire IMO state capital city on Monday,5th April 2021 as the residents of the town slept with their eyes open when the federal prison and correctional center in the town, came under a very heavy attack by unknown gunmen on the wee hours of the day. Eye witness reports have it that the attack began as 3’Oclock midnight and the lasted for over an hour. The prison which is very close the state government’s seat of power, was extremely destroyed by gunmen and exactly 1,844 inmates were freed from the correctional center as disclosed by the prison officials. The gunmen shot sporadically into the air, chanting wings of war and victory.

Upon destroying the prison headquarters, the gunmen equally matched down the state Police headquarters in Owerri, setting the entire facilities and vehicles there ablaze. Reports has it that the police armoury were also carted away by the perpetrators on the same day.

Also, a well known military checkpoint in Ukwuorji community, along Owerri-Onitsha expressway was attacked by the gunmen as they burnt down all the military patrol vehicles there. Report has it that a soldier was burnt inside his burnt car while others scampered for safety.

This developed triggered alot of reactions all over the country as people expressed resentment over the insecure state of IMO.The vice president Prof Yemi Osinabjo,the minister for interior Rauf Aregbosola and the Inspector General of police Muhammad Adamu (now former) all stormed the state the next state to have an overview of what happened alongside the state governor Hope Uzodimma. While the president,Muhammed Buhari who is London for medical check up described the ugly incident as a terrorist attack.

But to a greatest bewilderment and utter shock of all, while the condemnation and investigation of the Owerri attack was still ongoing, gunmen stormed the Ehime Mbano LGA divisional police headquarters of the state and set the place ablaze. Sources have that they also released all the suspects in the cells before setting the facilities and vehicles there ablaze. At the same point,a Fulani herder was short dead in Ihite Uboma LGA and his fur cattles slaughter by a gunman. In the like manner,was it reported that about seven suya sellers were killed in Umuaka community of Njaba LGA of the state on the eve of the Owerri attack while invasion of the IMO state university teaching hospital Orlu also went on simultaneously by gunmen.

All these gory development have left the citizens and residents of the state extremely worried about their safety henceforth. Meanwhile the governor of IMO state had assured the citizens of the State to go about their normal business and also remain vigilant, stating that a high powered investigative committee has been set up to fish out the perpetrators of the strange attacks.