Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has revealed that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) is behind the attack that was carried out on the Imo prison facility.

The IGP’s statement comes few hours after gunmen on Monday attacked the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in the state freeing an unspecified number of prison inmates.

The statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, ordered the immediate deployment of additional units of Police Mobile Force and other Police Tactical Squads in Imo to strengthen security in the state and prevent further attacks on security formations or any other critical national infrastructure in the state.

Gunmen early Monday morning attacked the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Owerri Correctional Prison.

The IGP said, “Preliminary investigations have revealed that the attackers, who came in their numbers with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).

“The attempt by the attackers to gain access to the Police armoury at the Headquarters was totally and appropriately resisted by Police operatives on duty who repelled the attackers and prevented them from breaking-in and looting the armoury.

“The armoury is thus intact! Similarly, the police suffered no human casualty, apart from a police Constable who sustained a minor bullet wound on his shoulder,” the statement partly read.