Chaos in Nigeria after attack on police station and mass prison breakout

Breakout of almost 2,000 prisoners blamed on southern separatists

Burnt vehicles are seen outside the Nigeria police force Imo state command headquarters after gunmen attacked and set properties ablaze in Imo State, Nigeria. Reuters

Burnt prison books are seen on the table after gunmen attacked and set the prison facility ablaze in Imo State, Nigeria. Reuters

A man is seen standing in front of the main gate of the Nigerian Correctional Services facility that was attacked by gunmen, with large numbers of inmates set freed afterwards in Imo State, Nigeria. Reuters

Imo state Gov. Hope Uzodinma, center, inspects the scene of an attack at the police command headquarters in Owerri. AP Photo

Burned vehicles are parked outside the police command headquarters in Owerri, Nigeria. Hundreds of inmates escaped from a prison in the southeastern Nigerian city after a series of coordinated attacks, according to government officials. AP Photo

A burned vehicle is parked outside the police command headquarters in Owerri, Nigeria. Hundreds of inmates escaped from a prison in the southeastern Nigerian city after a series of coordinated attacks, according to government officials. AP Photo

Burned documents are seen inside a correctional facility in Owerri, Nigeria. Hundreds of inmates escaped from the prison in southeastern Nigeria after a series of coordinated attacks, according to government officials. AP Photo

People walk past burned vehicles in front of a correctional facility in Owerri, Nigeria. Hundreds of inmates escaped from the prison in southeastern Nigeria after a series of coordinated attacks according to government officials. AP Photo

Gunmen stormed a police station in south-east Nigeria and freed prisoners, a day after the region was hit by a prison breakout blamed on separatists, police said on Wednesday.

The police station in the town of Ehime Mbano in Imo state was set ablaze on Tuesday after it was raided by gunmen, police spokesman Orlando Ikeokwu said.

"I can confirm to you that another police facility was attacked by bandits," Mr Ikeokwu told AFP.

He said three vehicles were burnt, but did not say if there were casualties.

Local media said some detainees were freed by the gunmen.

South-east Nigeria is experiencing an upsurge in attacks aimed at security forces in violence that officials blame on the Indigenous People of Biafra, a separatist group seeking independence for the indigenous Igbo people.

The attack came a day after a prison and the police headquarters in Imo's state capital Owerri were attacked and 1,844 inmates freed.

The armed forces said on Wednesday a joint operation was under way in the volatile region "to flush out the miscreants".

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited the state on Tuesday to assess the damage in Owerri.

"Anyone who perpetrates violence does not represent the progressive-mindedness of the good people of this state and this zone," Mr Osinbajo said.

"I call on all of us to come together to resist any attempt to turn the progress and peace that this zone is set to experience to conflict and disruption."

The Indigenous People of Biafra denied the accusations but the police declared a clampdown on the group.

Calls for a separate state of Biafra in the south are a sensitive subject in Nigeria, after a unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 sparked a brutal 30-month civil war.