Unknown gunmen on Easter Monday morning attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison in the Imo State capital, setting the facility ablaze and freeing over 1500 inmates.
The gunmen also burnt down Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri and torched vehicles parked at the command headquarters.
They also set free suspects in virtually all the cells at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command.
FirstNews learnt that the gunmen began the attack at 1am and operated till 3am.
A security source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gunmen sang and danced at the Imo Government House roundabout for close to 30 minutes before launching their attack on their targets.
It was gathered that the gunmen, who broke into the prison, using explosives and dynamite, shouted at the inmates, “Go home, Jesus has risen! You have no reason to be here!”
State Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attacks.
The PPRO, however, said that the police and other security agencies in the state had taken control if the situation.