Police Condemn Attack on Ipele Divisional Headquarters in Ondo

The Ondo State Police Command has condemned the attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters, which occurred on Dec. 31, 2025.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Adebowale Lawal, psc(+), mnips, made the condemnation in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on Thursday in Akure.

The command clarified that contrary to reports circulating on social media, no church was attacked during the incident.

According to preliminary reports, the attack occurred at about 9:41 p.m. when between 20 and 30 armed men invaded the police station, firing assault rifles and allegedly deploying dynamite.

The statement said the assailants set the station ablaze, resulting in the destruction of the building and several exhibits.

“No life was lost in the attack as at the time of filing this report,” the police said.

It stated that upon receiving the distress report, a joint patrol team comprising the police, the military, the Nigeria Security and CivDefensence Corps, and other non-state security actors was mobilised to the scene.

However, the attackers had already fled before the arrival of the security operatives.

Reacting to the incident, Lawal described the attack as tragic and reprehensible, noting that it was a direct assault on the peace and security of Ondo State.

He urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the situation was under control.

The commissioner ordered the immediate deployment of additional operational assets to the area, including tactical teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, and personnel of the Police Mobile Force.

The police said a coordinated manhunt had been launched to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.