The authorities of the Imo State Custodial Centre have firmly denied widespread online reports suggesting a jailbreak or attack at the Owerri correctional facility.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the centre, Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) Goodluck Uboegbulam, the circulating claim—alleging an invasion by armed Fulani herdsmen and the escape of inmates—is entirely false and misleading.
In a statement issued in Owerri, Uboegbulam urged the public and security personnel to disregard the viral post, which he described as “fake and unfounded.”
“Good morning esteemed officers,” his statement read in part. “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 false report had claimed that over 50 armed herdsmen had stormed the centre, freeing more than 70 inmates. It further alleged that the prison had been completely emptied.
However, eyewitness accounts and security checks have confirmed that there is no disturbance at the centre. The area remains under heavy security surveillance, with an army armoured tank and personnel stationed at the facility’s entrance, as has been the case since the April 1st, 2021 attack during the #EndSARS protests.
Normalcy prevails around the facility and the broader Owerri metropolis, with vehicular and commercial activities ongoing.
The Imo State Correctional Service urges the public to avoid spreading unverified news and to rely only on credible sources for information.
