Abduljelil IssaSuspected bandits on Wednesday night attacked a police station in the Ipele-Owo community, located in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The attack occurred as Christians were preparing to attend crossover church services, throwing the area into chaos as police officers and residents reportedly fled for safety.
It was also learned that the assailants set the police station ablaze during the assault.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said the attackers, numbering about 20, invaded the community at around 10 pm on Wednesday, firing shots indiscriminately and forcing residents to abandon their homes.
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“It was a terrorist attack. The attackers numbering about 20, came into the Ipele community in a commando style and began to shoot sporadically before attacking the Police Divisional Station in Ipele.
“It was a serious incident because many of us had to flee into the bush. The sounds from the attack were terrifying, and none of us could withstand it,” the eyewitness said.
Confirming the development, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, acknowledged that the incident occurred but noted that full details were yet to be made available.
He said, “Yes it happened but we will get the details out tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, security operatives in the state were reportedly deployed to the community to restore calm and stabilise the situation.
Recall iDeemlawful earlier reported the Ondo State security outfit, known as Amotekun apprehended 39 suspected terrorists who reportedly fled Sokoto State following the Christmas Day airstrikes carried out by the United States military in Nigeria’s North-West.
While parading 100 suspected criminals arrested across the state, the commander of the security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed that the 39 suspected bandits said they escaped from Sokoto State.
Adeleye explained that after fleeing from the northern region of the country, the suspects relocated to forest areas within the state.