New Year celebrations were disrupted on Wednesday night as suspected terrorists attacked Ipele community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, setting the Divisional Police Station on fire and throwing residents into panic.
The attackers, numbering about 20, reportedly stormed the community around 10 p.m., just as residents were marking the New Year, firing sporadically and forcing people to flee their homes for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants targeted the police facility in the community, which was eventually razed during the attack. The gunmen were said to have operated in commando style for several hours before fleeing, as security personnel were reportedly overwhelmed by the intensity of the assault.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as terrifying.
“It was a terrorist attack. About 20 of them came into Ipele in a commando style and started shooting sporadically before attacking the police station. Many of us ran into the bush to save our lives. The sounds of gunshots were frightening, especially on a night meant for New Year celebrations,” the source said.
Although the motive for the attack was not immediately known, residents said the incident shattered the festive atmosphere, forcing families to abandon celebrations and seek refuge in nearby bushes to avoid being harmed.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of casualties, though security agencies have since been deployed to the area to restore normalcy.
Confirming the attack, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the incident occurred but noted that details were still sketchy.
Abayomi added that the command would issue a detailed statement after proper briefing.
