OWERRI, NIGERIA (AFP) - Tension gripped a town in southeastern Nigeria on Tuesday (April 6), a day after gunmen blasted their way into a prison, freed more than 1,800 inmates and then looted a police station, local inhabitants said.

The town of Owerri was calm, but the mood was apprehensive, as residents said they worried about violence from escapees or being caught in an attack by the security forces.