Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has vowed that those responsible for the bombing of the Ipele Divisional Police Station in Owo Local Government Area will be tracked down and brought to justice, describing the attack as a direct assault on the peace and security of the state.
The governor made the pledge after convening an emergency security council meeting in Akure to review the incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve while residents were attending night church services to usher in 2026.
According to reports, about 30 suspected bandits riding motorcycles stormed the police station late Wednesday night and detonated an explosive device, causing damage to the facility. Governor Aiyedatiwa disclosed that all security formations across the state have been placed on red alert to prevent further security breaches.
“Security agencies in the state responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to flee. The proactive and coordinated action of our security operatives has brought the situation under firm control and significantly limited the damage,” the governor said.
He explained that although the assailants managed to breach the station and discharge an explosive, the rapid response of security forces ensured that no lives were lost.
“They were able to gain access somehow, but the prompt mobilisation of our security agencies helped to contain the situation. Thankfully, nobody was injured or killed,” Aiyedatiwa added.
The governor confirmed that the damage was limited to the police station, noting that all officers on duty survived the attack and quickly returned to patrol duties to prevent further criminal activity. He said the emergency meeting with security chiefs focused on evaluating the response to the attack and strengthening measures to avert a recurrence.
Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, said the governor summoned heads of the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence, and Amotekun Corps to jointly assess the situation and fine-tune strategies for arresting the perpetrators.
Lawal also dismissed social media reports claiming there were casualties or that churches were attacked during the incident.
“No lives were lost, and no church was affected,” he stated.
The police commissioner added that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage, including whether any items were removed from the police armoury. He cautioned against prematurely describing the attack as terrorism until suspects are arrested and their identities established.
“It is too early to label the attackers as terrorists. Once investigations are concluded and arrests are made, we will clearly identify who is behind this act,” Lawal said.
Reassuring residents, the commissioner maintained that Ondo State remains one of the safest states in southern Nigeria and urged the public to remain calm and continue to support security agencies.
“The good people of Ondo State should stay calm and maintain the confidence they have always had in the security agencies,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lawal, alongside the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 17, Ajani Omolabi, visited the damaged police station to assess the situation firsthand. The attack was strongly condemned, with security authorities describing it as a reprehensible act against public safety and order in the state.
