In a climate of terror on New Year’s Eve, armed assailants, believed to be terrorists, struck the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters in Ondo State, igniting the building and inflicting extensive damage.
The Legal Observer reports that the attack took place on December 31, 2025, at around 9:41 p.m., when a group of 20 to 30 armed men stormed the police station, discharging assault rifles and utilizing dynamite.
The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, has condemned the attack in the strongest terms, calling it a tragic and contemptible act against the peace and security of Ondo State.
In a press release issued on the morning of January 1, 2026, the Ondo State Police Command clarified that, contrary to widespread reports on social media, no church was attacked during the incident.
“Upon receipt of the report, a joint patrol comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, and other non-state actors promptly mobilized to the scene; however, the attackers had already executed the act before their arrival,” stated the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported as a result of the attack, but the destruction of the police station and several exhibits has raised significant alarm within the community. The Commissioner of Police urged residents to remain calm and reassured them that the situation is firmly under control.
In response to the incident, CP Lawal has ordered the immediate deployment of additional operational resources, including Tactical Teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, and Police Mobile Force personnel to the area. A coordinated manhunt for the attackers is currently in progress.
