Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday night launched a brazen assault on Ipele, an agrarian community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting the Divisional Police Station ablaze and forcing residents to flee for safety.
The attackers, said to be about 20 in number, reportedly stormed the community on New Year’s Eve at about 10pm, unleashing sustained sporadic gunfire that shattered the calm of the area and triggered widespread panic.
Residents said the heavily armed assailants directed their firepower at the police facility, overwhelming security operatives on duty before eventually razing the station. The operation, which eyewitnesses described as audacious and well-coordinated, lasted for several hours.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the scale and intensity of the attack left residents with no option but to run into nearby bushes to escape possible harm.
“It was terrifying. They came shooting heavily and went straight for the police station. Many of us fled our homes because the sound of gunshots was unbearable. Nothing like this has ever happened here,” the source said.
The attack has since thrown the community into a state of fear, with many residents abandoning their homes amid concerns over possible reprisals or further violence. As at press time, the motive behind the assault remained unclear.
Security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Amotekun Corps, have been deployed to the area to restore order and reassure residents. However, no official figure has been released on casualties or the extent of damage beyond the destruction of the police station.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, acknowledged the attack but said full details would be made available after a comprehensive briefing.
