The prison authorities of Imo State Correctional Centre have dispelled rumours of a jailbreak at the Correctional facilities alleged to have been caused by Funali Herdsmen on a mission to free their brothers.
A press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Centre, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, CSC, Goodluck Uboegbulam, informed that the alleged invasion by armed Fulani herdsmen as reported in the social media is entirely false and misleading.
Uboegbulam urged the public and security personnel to disregard the viral post, which he described as fake and unfounded.
“I wish to bring to our notice a disturbing fake news making the rounds on the internet about an attack on Owerri custodial centre. I want to assure everyone that the facility is calm and under control. All officers are on red alert, and there is no cause for alarm.”;the release stated.
He hinted that the false report had claimed that over 50 armed herdsmen had stormed the Centre, freeing more than 70 inmates.
Our correspondent reported that there is calm within the facility when visited as normal security checks is still in place.
It was also gathered that there is heavy security surveillance, with an army armoured tank and personnel stationed at the facility’s entrance, as has been the case since the April, 1 , 2021 attack during the EndSARS protests.
The Correctional Service spokesperson used the medium to urge the public to disregard the report and avoid spreading unverified news.