Ondo State Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, has directed security chiefs to arrest those responsible for the recent attacks in Ipele community, Owo Local Government Area, saying such acts should not be repeated in the state.
Addressing journalists at the Government House, Alagbaka Akure, on Thursday after a meeting with security chiefs, Ayidatiwa said the quick response of security agencies helped the situation because no one knew what their mission or intentions were. But they were able to carry out their mission or activity because perhaps they also intended to visit some churches.
He said, “Like we did about three years ago, exactly in June 2022, when some bandits or terrorists, if you like, attacked one of the churches, St. Francis Catholic Church, where lives were lost. But this time, no lives were lost and we thank God.”
Ayyadattiwa said; “Just last night when a lot of citizens, some people were in the church, were praising God for the night that is turning into the new year. We got the ugly news in our local government about an attack by some unknown gunmen in one of our communities, specifically Ipele, that a police station was attacked.
“I immediately called the police and the brigade commander and were instructed that men should be deployed in the area to support the people of the area, especially those on patrol, because our people, the Security Joint Operation Task Force, are on patrol all the time across the state.
“And our forests too, our people are there, especially the Amotekun Rangers. So we have always been doing a lot, but somehow they were able to beat the security, maybe beat the security or whatever. They were able to get to the police station where an explosive was released, but no lives were lost.
Also read: Photos: Gunmen set fire to Ondo police station on New Year's Eve
“The prompt response of the security agencies helped the situation because nobody knew what their mission or intentions were, but they were able to carry out their mission or activity because perhaps they also had the intention of going to some churches. Just like we did about three years ago, exactly June 2022, when some bandits or terrorists, if you like, attacked one of the churches, St. Francis Catholic Church, where lives were lost. But this time, no He also did not lose his life, and we thank God.
“This was not what we should have started the New Year with, but you can never tell the plans of these people. They look for a time when people are relaxed or they are not expecting anything to happen, especially in the run-up to New Year celebrations. But from our side, the security agencies, they know that security works 24 hours.
“So we always stay very far away, and that's what happened. They were able to move quickly into the area with the patrol team and a few other people who were deployed. So no lives were lost, only the police station which was left standing because of the explosives.”
“No policemen lost their lives. They were all alive and were able to join others in patrolling and were able to ensure that they were able to carry out other criminal activities. So that is the situation.
“So moving forward, people are now very much on board. Had a security meeting with the main security chiefs to look at the situation and evaluate it and see what we need to do to protect our people and to ensure that such acts do not happen again.”
BusinessDay reports that initial reports from police in the state indicate that a group of armed men numbering 20 to 30 attacked the police station, firing with assault rifles and deploying dynamite to attack the facility.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, who spoke to journalists on behalf of other security chiefs, said they would soon come up with strategies to ensure that the attacks do not recur.
Lawal said; “No lives were lost and no churches were attacked, and we are working to arrest those responsible for the attacks. We remain alert to them.”
“I want to assure that we are up to the task. We are going to ensure that criminals do not escape justice. We have a map of strategies, after the New Year, we are going to meet again. Immediately after we leave here, we are going to meet again to continue our deliberations and it will be in the hands of the security agencies. At that point, okay, the problem is solved, but then we are up to the task.
“By the time we make arrests and complete our investigation, we will be able to find out something whether they are indeed terrorists. But the good people of Ondo should be assured that we do not have terrorists in Ondo State.
“The good people of Ondo should remain calm and have that confidence, that trust that they already have in us, that should continue.
“Mr. Governor has instructed us that the culprits should be arrested within no time.”
