Tension gripped Ipele community in Ondo State’s Owo Local Government Area after suspected terrorists attacked and set ablaze the Divisional Police Station on New Year’s Eve, around 10 pm, Peak Newspaper reports.
The attackers, numbering about 20, stormed the community, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as “terrifying,” with many residents escaping into nearby bushes to avoid being killed. The assailants targeted the police facility, setting it on fire and destroying several exhibits.
No casualties have been officially confirmed, but the police spokesperson, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the attack, stating that details are still sketchy.
The Ondo State Police Command has deployed additional operational assets, including Tactical Teams and Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, to the area, and a coordinated manhunt for the attackers is underway.
The police commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, condemned the attack as a “tragic and reprehensible act against the peace and security of Ondo State”.
