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Armed gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday night launched a coordinated assault on Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting the Divisional Police Station ablaze and sending residents into panic.
The attackers, believed to be about 20 in number, reportedly stormed the agrarian community around 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, firing sporadically as they advanced. Their primary target was the police facility, which came under intense gunfire before being set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said the heavily armed assailants operated for several hours, overwhelming the security personnel on duty. The scale and intensity of the attack forced many residents to abandon their homes and flee into nearby bushes in search of safety.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as terrifying and unprecedented. According to him, the attackers arrived shooting indiscriminately, creating fear and confusion across the community before turning their attention to the police station.
“The sounds of gunshots were frightening. Many of us had no option but to run for our lives. It felt like a full-scale terror attack,” the eyewitness said.
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As of the time of filing this report, the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and there has been no official confirmation of casualties. However, security agencies have intensified their presence in the area.
Security operatives, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Amotekun Corps, have since been deployed to restore calm and prevent further violence.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, acknowledged the attack and said the command would provide more details after receiving a full briefing on the situation.
