### [2021-04-5](/feed/2021/04/5/index.md)

##### Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
# Heavily-armed gunmen attack a prison in Owerri, Imo, freeing more than 1,800 prisoners. The banned separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra are believed to be the attackers. 

Six prisoners have reportedly returned while 35 had refused to escape in the attack by gunmen.


### Sources:

1. [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-56644577) [Image](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/AC0C/production/_117844044_8c9b0bee-bcdb-434c-b819-31a185a9c688.jpg)

### Changes:

1. Heavily armed gunmen attack a prison in Owerri, Nigeria, freeing more than 1,800 prisoners, according to the Nigerian Prisons Service.  _2021-04-06 01:05:46 (First version)_
2. Heavily-armed gunmen attack a prison in Owerri, Imo, freeing more than 1,800 prisoners, according to the Prisons Service.  _2021-04-06 09:05:40 (Update)_
2. Heavily-armed gunmen attack a prison in Owerri, Imo, freeing more than 1,800 prisoners. The banned separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra are believed to be the attackers.  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [A mass shooting at a school in Kumba, Southwest, Cameroon kills at least six children and wounds eight others in an attack apparently committed by Ambazonian separatist insurgents. The United Nations office reports eight children were killed. A spokesman for the separatist movement expresses "shock and disgust" over the attack. ](/feed/2020/10/24/a-mass-shooting-at-a-school-in-kumba-southwest-cameroon-kills-at-least-six-children-and-wounds-eight-others-in-an-atta.md) _Context: separatist_
2. [Gunmen attack a military base in Kindia, Guinea, about 85 km outside of the capital Conakry, killing the camp's commander, according to a statement released by the defence ministry. A prison in the city is also attacked, wounding an official and allowing several inmates to escape. The attacks come two days before the general elections. ](/feed/2020/10/16/gunmen-attack-a-military-base-in-kindia-guinea-about-85-km-outside-of-the-capital-conakry-killing-the-camp-s-commande.md) _Context: freeing more than_
3. [Indonesian security forces deny that two people they killed late last week were "innocent civilians". The Indonesian military is fighting the separatist West Papua Liberation Army in the region, which reported that the two killed were shot without provocation. ](/feed/2020/07/22/indonesian-security-forces-deny-that-two-people-they-killed-late-last-week-were-innocent-civilians-the-indonesian-mil.md) _Context: separatist_
4. [Amnesty International says it has conducted a report which says that Myanmar's armed forces "have killed civilians, including children in indiscriminate air attacks" in Rakhine and Chin states, urging the United Nations Security Council to launch a war crimes investigation. Myanmar has been fighting the separatist Arakan Army in the region. The government did not immediately respond to calls for comment. ](/feed/2020/07/8/amnesty-international-says-it-has-conducted-a-report-which-says-that-myanmar-s-armed-forces-have-killed-civilians-incl.md) _Context: separatist_
5. [Yanghee Lee, the United Nations special rapporteur, accuses the Myanmar Armed Forces of intensifying their attacks on civilians in Rakhine and Chin states. The Myanmar government blames Rohingya insurgents and the separatist Arakan Army for the violence. ](/feed/2020/04/29/yanghee-lee-the-united-nations-special-rapporteur-accuses-the-myanmar-armed-forces-of-intensifying-their-attacks-on-ci.md) _Context: separatist_
6. [Inmates at several prisons in Italy revolt with reports of riots at prisons in Modena, Foggia, Naples, Frosinone and Alessandria due to fears the coronavirus lockdowns will end visits from relatives. At least eight inmates, six in Modena, have died of overdose after assaulting the prison's pharmacy, while about 20 escaped in Foggia. ](/feed/2020/03/8/inmates-at-several-prisons-in-italy-revolt-with-reports-of-riots-at-prisons-in-modena-foggia-naples-frosinone-and-ale.md) _Context: prison_
7. [Conservative MP Philip Davies calls for a crackdown after it was announced up to 100 prisoners serving life sentences in British prisons will be let out of jail at Christmas for a five-day break with their families. Last year a total of 1,347 prison inmates, including 93 lifers, were given leave. The scheme has been defended by Justice Minister MP Andrew Selous but has caused outrage among justice campaigners. ](/feed/2015/11/29/conservative-mp-philip-davies-calls-for-a-crackdown-after-it-was-announced-up-to-100-prisoners-serving-life-sentences-in.md) _Context: prison_
8. [Cuba announces it will release more than 3,500 prisoners in a goodwill gesture ahead of next week's visit by Pope Francis. ](/feed/2015/09/11/cuba-announces-it-will-release-more-than-3500-prisoners-in-a-goodwill-gesture-ahead-of-next-week-s-visit-by-pope-franci.md) _Context: prisoner_
9. [At least 37 people are killed in Iraq amid a two-day spate of suicide bombings and armed prison escapes. ](/feed/2013/07/22/at-least-37-people-are-killed-in-iraq-amid-a-two-day-spate-of-suicide-bombings-and-armed-prison-escapes.md) _Context: freeing more than_
