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Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has directed security agencies to intensify patrols across communities and forest areas, following a violent attack on Ipele-Owo in the Owo Local Government Area.
The directive was issued on Thursday, January 1, 2026, during an emergency security meeting in Akure.
This meeting was convened in response to the New Year’s Eve assault in which gunmen set a police station ablaze and forced residents to flee.
The attack, which occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, saw armed men invade the community, causing widespread panic.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, estimated to be about 20, stormed the town in a coordinated manner before targeting the Police Divisional Station.
After reviewing the incident with the heads of security agencies at the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Akure, Aiyedatiwa stated that the attack occurred while many residents were attending night services to usher in the New Year.
Credit: Gazettengr
He explained that upon receiving reports of the incident, he immediately contacted security authorities, including the police and the Nigerian Army, and ordered the deployment of additional personnel to protect lives and property.
The governor noted that security operatives, including members of the Joint Operations Task Force and the Amotekun Corps, were already conducting patrols across the state and within forested areas.
He said their swift response prevented casualties, despite the attackers managing to breach security and detonate an explosive at the police station.
“Their rapid mobilisation ensured that the attackers, who gained access to the police station and discharged an explosive, were unable to harm anyone.
“Somehow, they were able to breach security, but the swift response of the security agencies helped greatly to curtail the situation.”
Aiyedatiwa confirmed that no lives were lost in the attack and that only the police facility was damaged. He hinted that the affected officers survived the incident and were redeployed to reinforce patrols in the area to forestall further criminal activity.
He said the emergency meeting focused on evaluating the security response, strengthening intelligence gathering, and ensuring such incidents do not recur.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, said the governor convened the meeting with heads of the police, military, DSS, Civil Defence and Amotekun to assess the situation and activate strategies to track down those responsible.
Lawal dismissed social media reports alleging casualties and attacks on churches, insisting that no deaths were recorded and no religious facility was affected.
He noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the damage, including whether any items were removed from the police armoury.
The police commissioner cautioned against prematurely labelling the incident a terrorist attack, noting that such conclusions would only be drawn after investigations and arrests.
He added that Ondo State remains one of the safest states in southern Nigeria and urged residents to remain calm while security agencies intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
