Three police stations have come under attack by gunmen in the space of less than 72 hours in Imo State, Nigeria. A police spokesperson says one police officer was missing following the third attack on Thursday.

All Africa reports that the gunmen freed some suspects from the police station cells and fled with phones belonging to suspects and police officers.

The previous two attacks were at the police headquarters and at the prison’s headquarters in the state. All Africa reports that the second attack was carried out a few hours after Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, visited the state to assess the damage done to the police headquarters.

A police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu, said the officers on duty had repelled the attack, but that one officer was missing and that two others sustained injuries during the attack.

Meanwhile local reports read that the gunmen had also attacked a military base, burning a soldier inside a vehicle, as well as four other vehicles belonging to the military.

All Africa reports that just between the months of February and April alone, Imo State police facilities had been targeted in 6 attacks.

Umm Muhammed Umar