Gunmen burn Police Station in Ondo Community, Residents Flee in Panic

Suspected bandits on Wednesday night attacked Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting the Divisional Police Station in the agrarian settlement ablaze after a coordinated assault.

The attackers, reportedly about 20 in number, stormed the community around 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, firing sporadic gunshots that sent residents scrambling for safety. The heavy gunfire preceded a direct assault on the police facility, which was eventually razed.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the gunmen, heavily armed, focused their attack on the Divisional Police Station, overwhelming security operatives with superior firepower. The incident sparked widespread panic, forcing many residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in nearby bushes.

One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the attack as terrifying and unprecedented in the community.

“It was a terrorist attack. About 20 gunmen entered Ipele and started shooting indiscriminately before moving straight to the police station,” the eyewitness said. “The operation lasted for hours. The sounds were frightening, and many of us had no choice but to run into the bush to save our lives.”

As of press time, the motive behind the attack remains unclear, while residents said they had never experienced such a level of violence in the area.

There has been no official confirmation of casualties, but security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Amotekun Corps, have been deployed to restore order and secure the community.

Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, said further details would be made available after a comprehensive briefing.