Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday night attacked Ipele, in Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State, triggering widespread panic and forcing residents to flee their homes in fear of being killed.
According to the account of a resident who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES reporter, the attack occurred around 10 p.m. when heavily armed men stormed the town and launched a coordinated assault on the Divisional Police Headquarters.
The attackers reportedly fired gunshots and used explosives, overwhelming security personnel on duty.
The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said many inhabitants were displaced and sought refuge in nearby bushes as the violence escalated.
“As I speak to you, we are still hiding in a nearby bush for fear that they might attack us at our houses,” the resident said. “We later heard that soldiers had been deployed, but we are not close enough to confirm that.”
Another eyewitness said the assailants, estimated to be about 20, arrived in a commando-style operation and held the town hostage for over an hour. According to him, the police facility was eventually set ablaze before the gunmen fled.
“It was a terrorist attack,” the resident said. “They came heavily armed, shooting sporadically before attacking the Divisional Police Station. The sounds were terrifying, and none of us could withstand it.”
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of casualties. However, security operatives have since been deployed to restore order in the community.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, said details of the attack were still sketchy. The deputy superintendent of police assured that the command would issue a comprehensive briefing after receiving full reports from the scene.
The Ipele attack comes against the backdrop of renewed security concerns nationwide, barely a week after coordinated United States airstrikes targeted terrorist hideouts in parts of Sokoto State and northern Nigeria. Despite intensified military operations, armed groups have continued to demonstrate their capacity to strike.
Wednesday’s assault marks the second major attack in Owo Local Government Area in recent years. The first occurred on June 5, 2022, when gunmen carried out a mass shooting and bomb attack at a Catholic church in Owo, leaving scores dead and many others injured.
