In the early hours of Easter Monday, April 5th, Gunmen reportedly stormed the correctional facility in Owerri, the Imo State capital, jailbreak prisoner and set the building on fire. According to reports, the gunmen struck the prison and freed an unconfirmed number of inmates and suspects with heavy gunfire and explosives, which could be heard around the area. While some say about 1,800 inmates escaped during the attack, while others reported 3,000.
Amnesty International said the Owerri Correctional Centre had 2,156 inmates against its installed in a capacity meant for only 548 people. President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently in London for medical care via Twitter, called the attack an “act of terrorism” carried out by anarchists and urged security forces to capture the assailants and the escaped detainees.
