More than 1,800 prisoners escape after attack on Nigeria jail
The attackers used explosives to blast their way into the Owerri prison in Imo state and engaged guards in a gun battle
A Nigerian flag is seen outside Nigeria Trade Office after Nigerian request to Taiwan to relocate its representative office in the African country, in Taipei, Taiwan January 12, 2017/ Reuters
More than 1,800 inmates have escaped after heavily armed gunmen attacked a prison in southwest Nigeria, correctional authorities said Monday.
The attackers used explosives to blast their way into the Owerri prison in Imo state, engaging guards in a gun battle, the corrections comptroller general's office said in a statement.
"I can confirm that the Imo State command of the Nigerian Correctional Service was attacked by unknown gunmen in Owerri," corrections service spokesman James Madugba told AFP without giving an exact number of escaped inmates. "The situation is under control."
