The Ondo State Police Command has condemned a violent attack on Ipele Police Station by armed men, clarifying that no church was attacked and confirming no casualties
Security Alert in Ondo as Armed Men Attack, Burn Ipele Police Station
The Ondo State Police Command has strongly condemned a violent attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters, which occurred on Tuesday night, December 31, 2025, describing the incident as a direct assault on public peace and security.
In a statement made available to NewsHeadline247, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, clarified that contrary to claims circulating on social media, no church was attacked during the incident.
According to preliminary police reports, between 20 and 30 heavily armed men invaded the Ipele Police Station at about 9:41 p.m., firing assault rifles and deploying dynamite.
The attackers reportedly set the police facility ablaze, resulting in the destruction of the station building and several police exhibits. No casualties were recorded at the time of filing this report.
Upon receiving distress alerts, a joint security patrol comprising personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alongside other non-state security actors, was immediately mobilised to the area. However, the assailants had already fled before their arrival.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal, psc(+), mnips, described the attack as “tragic and reprehensible,” urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
He assured the public that the security situation is firmly under control, while directing the immediate deployment of additional operational assets to the affected area.
These include Tactical Teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, as well as Police Mobile Force personnel, to strengthen security and prevent further threats.
The Commissioner also ordered a coordinated manhunt for the perpetrators, stressing that the attackers would be tracked down and brought to justice.
The police command said further updates would be communicated as investigations progress.
