Imo attacks: Minister narrates why gunmen overpowered police

Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, has narrated how gunmen stormed and overpowered the Imo state Police Command fully fortified.

He revealed this on Friday, whiles speaking on Channels Television's 'Politics Today' show.

Earlier reports stated that gunmen attacked the Owerri Correctional Centre and freed over 1,800 inmates. Also they razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters in Owerri as well as burnt all vehicles parked at the command headquarters.

According to Assistant Director with the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree the secret police informed the Nigeria Police Force several times before the attack on Monday in Imo state. however, they failed to act on the information.

Responding to the statement from the Department of State Services, the Police affairs minister confirmed that indeed the DSS warned the police before Monday attack and the police fought hard but was overpowered.

Dingyadi said, “People are always pointing accusing fingers at the police. This report was not just sent to the police, it was sent to other security agencies and to the government as far as my understanding is concerned and then the police at that particular time did the best that they could but they were overpowered.

“Don’t forget that these people came prepared, they came with all the arsenals at their disposal and they came in large numbers and that is why they were able to overpower the police at the entrance of the police headquarters in Owerri.

“So, it is not just the police to be blamed, the police did their best and it was not only the police that was hit; the correctional centre in Owerri was also attacked. It is a collective responsibility. Security is the responsibility of everybody and we have a responsibility to ensure that we remain alert and focused on these issues 24 hours a day.”