Police Assure Ondo Residents of Enhanced Security After Ipele Station Attack
Residents of Ipele community in Ondo State have been assured of reinforced security and a swift manhunt for criminals following a violent attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters, as senior police officers carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the damaged facility.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 17, AIG Ajani Musibau psc(+) spsp, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, CP Adebowale Lawal psc(+) mnips, visited the station on 1st January 2026, a day after it was attacked and set ablaze by armed men.
During the visit, the police leadership, alongside top-ranking officers of the Command, personnel of the Military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other non-state actors, conducted a comprehensive inspection of the burnt facility. The attack, which occurred on 31st December 2025, led to the destruction of the station building and several vital exhibits. No casualty was recorded.
Addressing officers and stakeholders after the assessment, AIG Ajani described the incident as a grave assault on public peace and security, vowing that the Nigeria Police Force would deploy all lawful means to track down and arrest those responsible. He assured that security in the area had been strengthened and that welfare arrangements would be made for affected personnel, while reconstruction of the station would commence as soon as possible.
CP Adebowale Lawal reaffirmed the Command’s determination to bring the perpetrators to justice, disclosing that additional operational assets, including Tactical Teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units, and Police Mobile Force personnel, have been deployed to the area.
The Commissioner also commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for his strategic leadership and ongoing reforms, as well as the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for sustained support to security efforts in the state.
Members of the public were urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies, as the police assured that the situation is under control and investigations are ongoing.
