Nearly 2,000 prisoners escape jail in south-east Nigeria

President Buhari condemns act of terrorism' after gunmen destroy part of prison walls in Owerri, Imo state

Almost 2,000 prisoners have escaped after a jailbreak in south-east Nigeria blamed on armed separatists, in the latest in a string of armed attacks on law enforcement authorities.

A prison facility and police command centre in the city of Owerri, Imo state, was targeted early on Monday by gunmen who destroyed part of the prison walls with explosives, freeing 1,844 inmates. One police officer was shot and injured in the attack.