The Nigeria Correctional Service headquarters along Okigwe road in Owerri, and the premises of the Imo state Police command headquarters were Monday morning razed by fire by unknown gummen.
As early as 1am, sporadic gunshots were heard as far as adjoining streets including Mbari, Mbonu Ojike, Item streets, Okigwe and Whethral roads and other parts of Ikenegbu layout, thereby leaving residents in palpable fear.
Some minutes later, it was discovered that most parts of the service and the command had been destroyed with vehicles and other property worth millions of Naira lost in the inferno, and both officers and prisoners fled as a result of the unprecedented incident.
Blueprint correspondent who was on ground later gathered that prisoners, officers of the service and policemen who ran for their dear lives were seen on the streets of Owerri capital in mufti and some were half naked as a result of the removal of their clothes for fear of being identified.
The service formerly known as prison and command headquarters are some metres away from Imo government house.
Eyewitness disclosed that not even the security men on ground could resist the rampaging gunmen.
As at the time of filling this report, no official press statement has been issued by either of the security agencies affected by the attack.
