TheCable

A police station in Imo state has been set ablaze by gunmen — for the second time in two days.

The police station, located in Ehime Mbano LGA, was burnt down on Tuesday afternoon.

TheCable understands that police officers took to their heels when the station was invaded by gunmen.

The gunmen were also said to have freed the detained persons at the police station.

Orlando Ikeokwu, Imo police spokesperson, confirmed the attack on the police division to NAN.

He, however, added that no death was recorded during the invasion.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that the police facility was attacked today by bandits. No casualty on the part of police, no loss of arms, but three vehicles were burnt in the process,” he said

The attack on the police station comes hours after Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo visited the state for an assessment of the damage done during a previous attack.

The police command headquarters and a correctional service centre in Owerri, Imo state capital, were attacked in the early hours of Monday.

Some inmates were freed while buildings and vehicles were razed when the police headquarters was invaded.

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) had said over 1,800 inmates escaped from custody, while the police accused members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being behind the attacks.

“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),” Frank Mba, the police spokesperson, had said.