…as police condemn attack on divisional headquarters
The Ondo State Police Command has condemned the attack by about 20-30 armed men on the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters in Ondo State.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Jimoh Abayomi, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure on Thursday, said the incident occurred at about 9:41pm on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025.
According to Abayomi, initial reports indicated that a group of armed men numbering between 20 and 30 attacked the police station, firing with assault rifles and deploying dynamite to attack the facility.
However, he said that no churches were attacked because the attackers set fire to the station, destroying the building and several exhibits.
The police spokesperson also said that till the time of writing the news, no one had died in the attack.
“The command clarifies that, contrary to reports circulating on social media, no church was attacked during the incident.
“Upon receiving the report, a joint patrol comprising police, army, civil defense and other non-state actors immediately arrived at the scene; however, the attackers had already committed the act before they arrived.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a sad and condemnable act against the peace and security of Ondo State. He urged members of the public to remain calm, assuring them that the situation is completely under control.
“Consequently, the CP has ordered the immediate deployment of additional operational assets including tactical teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units and Police Mobile Force personnel to the area until the situation is under control. A coordinated search operation for the attackers is currently underway.
“Further developments will be informed in due course.”
