Gunshots Erupt In Imo Capital As Militants Attack Owerri Prison In Attempted Jailbreak
Chaos has erupted in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, following sporadic gunfire across the city. The shooting has been linked to an attempted jailbreak at Owerri Prison.
According to a security post shared by Eons Intelligence on X, the attack was carried out by unknown gunmen. The post read: “At 11:30 am today, 31st July 2024, Owerri Prison came under attack by unknown gunmen. A gun duel is ongoing between the prison armed squad and the assailants. Reinforcement from the military and other security formations is ongoing.”
Eons Intelligence further tweeted: “Report of sporadic shooting across Owerri Municipal by UGM (unknown gunmen). Suspected hoodlums also attacked the UBA bank on Wetheral Road. Avoid the area until normalcy is restored.”
While some witnesses attributed the gunfire to unknown gunmen, sources within the Imo State capital suggested otherwise. According to these sources, the shooting was reported at multiple locations, including Okigwe Road, World Bank, Control, in front of Government House, Onitsha Road, Amaku-Ohia – Akwaku Road, Aba Road, and Wetheral Road.
One source speculated that the shootings might have been orchestrated by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma. “We believe that Governor Hope Uzodimma and his administration are behind the shooting to scare and send fear to people who might be planning to join the nationwide ‘Day of Rage’ protests against hunger and misgovernance in Nigeria tomorrow,” the source stated.
“The videos from Owerri show the capital completely deserted. In those videos, do you see security agencies moving around to contain it? That shows you that the shooting was a government plan to scare would-be protesters from coming tomorrow. That is the main agenda. The police, military, and other security agencies are stationed in the capital with increased checkpoints on every street in Owerri. So, where did the so-called gunmen come from?”
Efforts to reach the Imo State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.
The situation in Owerri remains tense as residents await further developments and official statements from security agencies.
