NB247
Terrorists on Wednesday night disrupted the tranquil celebration of the New Year in Ondo with a heavy gun attack in Ipele, in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The attack has sent panic across the state and residents of the community who were reported to have scampered for safety.
Reports say residents have been displaced from their homes seeking refuge in nearby bushes under the cover of darkness for fear of being killed by the gunmen.
A resident who spoke to our correspondent on the phone said the attack occured around 10pm on Wednesday.
He said the gunmen attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in the town with gunshots and explosives.
”As I speak to you, we are still hiding in a nearby bushing for fear that they might attack us at our houses,” the source said.
”We just received information that soldiers have been deployed to the scene to handle the situation. We are not anyway near to confirm that.”
It was also gathered that the attackers, numbering about 20, targeted the police facility in the community and subsequently set it ablaze.
Another resident who claimed to be closed to the screen when attack occured, said the gunmen who came in fully armed, and overwhelmed the police personnel on duty for over an hour before fleeing the scene.
”It was a terrorist 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,” the resident said.
”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..
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation of casualties as security agencies have since been deployed to the area.
When contacted, the Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the attack but said details are still sketchy.
Mr Abayomi, a deputy superintendent of police, assured that the command would provide details after proper briefing.
The attack is coming barely a week after the US coordinated air strikes on terrorists’ hideouts in Sokoto State and some parts of the North.
The terrorists have continued their attacks with a Christmas even attack on a mosque in Borno State, showing that the bandits still have the capacity to strike at any spot within the country despite the onslaught against them.
Wednesday’s attack would be the second attack on Owo Local Government by terrorist’s elements.
The first was the June 5, 2022 attack on a Catholic Church in Owo, which witnessed mass shooting and bomb attack.
Scores were killed and several others were injured in the attack..