Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday night attacked Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting the Divisional Police Station in the town on fire and forcing residents to flee their homes.
The attack happened on New Year’s Eve at about 10:00 p.m., a time when many families were either preparing to welcome the New Year or already indoors for the night. According to residents, the gunmen arrived suddenly and began shooting heavily, throwing the quiet agrarian community into panic.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were about 20 in number and were armed with different kinds of weapons. They reportedly fired sporadic gunshots as they moved through the community before heading straight to the Divisional Police Station, which they attacked and later set ablaze.
Sources in the community said the gunmen operated for several hours without immediate resistance, overpowering the security personnel on duty. The heavy sound of gunfire echoed across the town, causing fear and confusion among residents.
A resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, described the incident as a terrifying experience that the community had never witnessed before.
“It was like a war situation. The attackers came into Ipele and started shooting everywhere. People were screaming and running for their lives,” the resident said.
“They went straight to the police station and attacked it with heavy firepower. The sound of the guns was too much. Many of us had to run into the bush to hide because we could not stay in our houses.”
According to the eyewitness, the attackers acted boldly and confidently, suggesting that they were well-organised. He added that the fear created by the attack made it impossible for residents to come out until the gunmen eventually left.
Another resident said the attack had left the community in shock, as Ipele had been relatively peaceful compared to some other areas in the state.
“This kind of thing is strange to us here. We are farmers and traders. We have never experienced an attack like this before,” the resident said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation on whether any lives were lost or if there were injuries during the attack. However, residents said properties around the police station were damaged, and the building was badly affected by the fire.
Following the attack, security agencies were deployed to the area. These include the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Ondo State Security Network, also known as Amotekun Corps. Their presence was meant to restore calm and reassure residents who had fled their homes.
The spokesperson of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the attack on the police station. He said more details would be made available after proper assessment and investigation by the command.
“An incident occurred in Ipele, and our men are on ground. Further information will be released after due briefing,” Abayomi said.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Residents and security officials have not yet said whether the gunmen were targeting specific individuals, weapons, or documents at the police station, or if the attack was meant to send a message.
Ipele is a farming community located in Owo Local Government Area, a part of Ondo State known for agriculture and small-scale trading. In recent years, however, some parts of Ondo State have witnessed rising security challenges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and attacks on security formations.
Ondo State, like many other states in the South-West, has faced threats from armed groups believed to be bandits or criminal gangs operating across forest routes. These groups are often accused of attacking travellers, kidnapping residents for ransom, and occasionally confronting security agencies.
To respond to these challenges, the Ondo State Government established the Amotekun Corps in 2020 as a regional security outfit to support the police and other federal agencies. The outfit has been involved in patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint operations to tackle crime, especially in rural areas and forests.
Despite these efforts, attacks on communities and security facilities have continued in some parts of the state, raising concerns among residents about safety, especially during festive periods when people travel to visit family and friends.
In Ipele, the immediate effect of the attack was fear and displacement. Many residents reportedly slept in the bush or in nearby communities on the night of the incident, unsure if the attackers would return.
“I could not sleep in my house that night,” a trader said. “We stayed outside until morning because we were afraid.”
Community leaders have called on the government to increase security in the area and ensure that those behind the attack are brought to justice. They also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information.
As investigations continue, residents of Ipele and surrounding communities are hoping for a stronger security presence to prevent a repeat of such an incident. For many, the attack has changed their sense of safety and raised fresh questions about security in rural areas of Ondo State.
