The Ipele community in the Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State was plunged into fresh panic on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025, when suspected gunmen, identified as bandits or terrorists, launched a coordinated attack on the Divisional Police Headquarters. The assault, which reportedly commenced around 9:41 p.m. on Wednesday night and extended into the early hours of January 1, 2026, forced numerous residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in nearby bushes, fearing for their lives.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene, with attackers numbering between 20 and 30, storming the community in what was described as a "commando style." Heavily armed with assault rifles, they fired sporadic gunshots and detonated explosives and dynamite, overwhelming police personnel on duty for over an hour. The primary target was the police facility, which was subsequently set ablaze, leading to the destruction of significant parts of the building and various exhibits.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed the attack through its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh. Contrary to rumors circulating on social media, the Command clarified that no church was attacked during the incident. While the extent of damage to the police station was substantial, Jimoh stated that no casualties were recorded from the attack itself. Commissioner of Police Adebowale Lawal condemned the reprehensible act against public peace and security, urging residents to remain calm and assuring them that the situation was under control.

Following the incident, a joint security patrol comprising personnel from the Police, Military, Civil Defence, and Amotekun Corps was swiftly deployed to the area. However, the assailants had already fled the scene before their arrival. The Police Public Relations Officer further confirmed that the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate deployment of additional operational assets, including Tactical Teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, and Police Mobile Force personnel, with a coordinated manhunt for the attackers currently underway.

This attack is not an isolated incident for Ondo State or the Owo Local Government Area. It marks the second such major assault by gunmen in Owo LGA, following the horrific mass shooting and bomb attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on June 5, 2022, which resulted in scores of fatalities and injuries. The incident also occurred just days after the Commander of the Amotekun Corps in the state, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, reported the apprehension of over 35 suspected terrorists fleeing from airstrikes in Sokoto State, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing the region and the country at large.