Bandit attack on Ipele Owo police station in Ondo
The transition from 2025 into 2026 was supposed to be a moment of spiritual reflection and communal joy for the people of Ondo State. Across the country, Nigerians were dressed in their Sunday best, heading to churches for the traditional crossover services to usher in the new year.
However, for the residents of Ipele Owo in the Owo Local Government Area, the night took a terrifying turn. While many were warming up their car engines or walking toward their places of worship, a group of suspected bandits launched a daring commando style assault on the community, turning a night of prayer into a night of absolute pandemonium.
As a professional editor who has covered various security challenges across the Southwest, this particular incident strikes a different chord. It is not just about the statistics of the attack; it is about the violation of a sacred time and the deep seated fear that now grips a region once considered relatively peaceful.
The attackers did not just target a random building; they went straight for the heart of local authority by attacking the Police Divisional Station. For a community to watch its primary line of defense go up in flames while they are preparing to thank God for life is a psychological blow that will take a long time to heal.
Residents flee into the bush during crossover night raid
The details coming out of Ipele Owo describe a scene straight out of a war movie. Around 10 pm on Wednesday, as the countdown to the new year began in earnest, about 20 gunmen stormed the town. Eyewitnesses say the shooting was sporadic and heavy, designed to cause maximum confusion and fear.
One resident, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons, shared that the sound of the gunfire was so terrifying that nobody even thought of standing their ground. People simply abandoned their homes and crossover service preparations, running headlong into the nearby bushes to seek cover.
In the heat of the moment, the distinction between a church goer and a security officer disappeared, as even the policemen at the station had to retreat in the face of the superior firepower and the sheer number of the invaders.
This “run for your life” scenario highlights the extreme vulnerability of our rural police outposts when faced with coordinated banditry. The fact that residents had to spend the first few hours of 2026 hiding in the forest instead of singing in a chapel is a grim reminder of the work that remains to be done in securing the Nigerian hinterland.
Details of the police station arson and security response
The most devastating part of the raid was the deliberate burning of the police station. After forcing the officers to retreat, the bandits reportedly set the building on fire, reducing vital infrastructure and perhaps sensitive documents to ashes. This act of arson is a classic tactic used by non state actors to signal their dominance and to leave a vacuum of authority in their wake. When the police station is gone, the message to the community is clear: you are on your own.
When reached for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Command, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed that the attack indeed took place. However, he noted that the details were still “sketchy” as of the early hours of New Year’s Day.
He promised that a more comprehensive briefing would be provided as the command receives more information from the field. In the meantime, there are reports that a combined team of security operatives has been deployed to Ipele Owo to restore order and begin the hunt for the perpetrators who vanished as quickly as they appeared.
The growing call for community vigilance and police protection
This latest incident in Owo brings to the fore the recurring conversation about the safety of the Southwest. While the Amotekun Corps has done a significant job in flushing out criminals from the forests, the audacity of bandits to attack a police station during a major national celebration suggests that these elements are becoming more desperate and bolder. It raises the question: if the police are not safe in their own station, how can the farmer or the trader feel secure in their home?
As we move into 2026, the government and security agencies must rethink their strategy for rural policing. We need more than just “sketchy” confirmations after an attack has occurred; we need a proactive intelligence network that stops these bandits before they reach the town gates. For the people of Ipele Owo, this new year did not start with a bang of celebration, but with the smoke of a burning police station.
It is now up to the state and federal authorities to ensure that this smoke is replaced by the fire of justice, and that the peace of this community is restored once and for all.
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