Gunmen on Wednesday night attacked Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting fire to the Divisional Police Station in the area and causing panic among residents.
The attack, which occurred on New Year's Eve, forced residents to flee their homes and disrupted crossover services in the farming community.
Witnesses said the gunmen, estimated to number between 20 and 30, stormed the community at about 9:41 p.m., shooting sporadically and causing widespread fear.
According to residents, the attackers had deployed explosives before setting the police facility on fire.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the scale and intensity of the attack overwhelmed the security personnel on duty and left residents with no option but to flee.
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“It was horrifying. People were running in different directions because of the heavy firing,” the resident said.
Other residents said that streets that are normally busy during crossover celebrations were completely deserted, as worshipers skipped church services, shops were hastily closed and movement was restricted.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, said the attack was specifically carried out on the police station and not on any church.
He said the divisional police station and some exhibitions were destroyed as a result of the attack, but noted that there were no casualties at the time of filing the report.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal condemned the incident as “an attack on peace and security in the state”.
Laval urged residents to remain calm and assured them that the situation was under control.
He ordered immediate deployment of additional tactical teams, explosive ordnance disposal units and police mobile force personnel to the area, while a coordinated search operation has been launched for the attackers.
Police said further information will be released as the investigation into the attack continues.
