Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Thursday, 1 January, 2026 ordered intensified security patrols across communities and forest areas of the state.
Aiyedatiwa issued the directive on Thursday, during a meeting with security chiefs in Akure, the state capital.
It was gathered that the meeting was held in response to a violent attack carried out by gunmen on Ipele-Owo community in Owo Local Government Area on Wednesday night, New Year’s Eve.
The attack, which occurred at about 10pm, reportedly saw gunmen invade the agrarian community and set a police station ablaze, forcing officers and residents to flee as the attackers fired sporadically, causing panic in the town.
An eyewitness said the attackers, numbering about 20, stormed the community around 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee their homes for safety.
“It was a terrorist-like 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.
Speaking after the emergency meeting with heads of security agencies at the Presidential Lodge, Government House, Akure, where he reviewed the response to the attack and measures to prevent a recurrence, Aiyedatiwa recalled that the incident occurred late on Wednesday night while many residents were attending night services to usher in 2026.
Acording to him, upon receiving the report, he immediately contacted the police and the brigade commander of the Nigerian Army, directing that security personnel be deployed to support officers on patrol and protect residents.
The Governor noted that security operatives, including members of the Joint Operations Task Force and Amotekun Corps, were already on patrol across the state and in forested areas.
He said, “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. Nobody lost their life.”
Aiyedatiwa confirmed that only the police station was damaged, adding that the officers survived and rejoined their colleagues on patrol to prevent further criminal activity.
He explained that the emergency meeting with security chiefs focused on reviewing the incident, assessing the security response and ensuring that similar acts do not recur.
