ABUJA: The Federal Government has condemned attack on Owerri prison, which took place penultimate Monday, (5th day of April, 2021) where over 1,844 inmates escaped from detention, including one Justice Anukam, an escapee, who reportedly stabbed a pregnant woman to death at Umuejechi Nekede Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
Reacting to the jail break, President Muhammadu Buhari, described the crime as an act of terrorism perpetrated by anarchists, just as he has ordered a full scale investigation with a view to bringing those behind the act to prosecution. Also the Inspector General of Police, has declared IPOB members, Onuoha Oscar Uchechukwu, Emeka Ogochukwu and Joseph Monday, who escaped from the cell at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, of the Police Command prior to the prison break wanted over their alleged complicity in the crime.
The police in conjunction with the officials of the Nigeria Correctional Services, have declared the following prison inmates escapees, wanted to enable them face prosecution. Those inmates declared wanted include; Ukachi Adiele, Akanne Francis, Akirika Peace, Aminu Aminu Musa, Abua Obioma and Adiele Okwuchukwu, among others.
Also on wanted list is Justice Anukam, a prison escapee, who reportedly stabbed a pregnant woman to death.
It would be recalled that Onuoha Oscar Uchechukwu, was an ardent member of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a parent body of the Eastern Security Network, which have been agitating for freedom for Biafra Republic.
Speaking with Journalists, one Kingsley Ike, said that the people had been living in fear since last week (April 5 (2021) jail break, which was the aftermath action of last month(March 2021) attack on four police stations, where a dozen of police officers were killed as well as several military checkpoints, saying the two attacks were believed to have been carried out by the same IPOB group.
An eyewitness who failed to disclose his identity said that the prison break in Owerri occurred when a large armed group arrived in a pick-up trucks and buses carrying rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and riffles, invaded the prison yard by using explosives to break the administrative block and tried to take over the armoury failed but they still released over 1,844 inmates from the jail.
Sequel to the order given by Mr. President, the police have launched manhunt against Onuoha Oscar Uchechukwu, who was alleged to have featured consistently for the agitation of Biafra Republic by IPOB members in South-Eastern states including Imo State, even though he was not seen to be involved in the Owerri jail break but has to escape from the police cell at the SCID to avoid unnecessary harassment, intimidation and unjust prosecution.
