Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Youth groups in Ipele community of Owo Local Government Area, Ondo State, have submitted a petition to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alleging that the traditional ruler invited hooded gunmen into the town who fired shots near the palace just hours before the brutal attack on the local police station that shook the community on New Year’s Eve. The dramatic claims come amid growing public concern over security and alleged complicity in the region’s rising tide of criminal attacks.
On December 31, 2025, at about 9:41 p.m., a group of between 20 and 30 armed men stormed the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters, firing assault rifles, using explosives, and ultimately setting parts of the facility ablaze during an assault that forced police and residents to flee for safety. No fatalities were immediately reported, but the station was significantly damaged and several exhibits destroyed, sending waves of fear through the agrarian community as crossover church services were underway when the assault began. Security forces were later mobilised to the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.
In the weeks following the attack, local youth leaders have sought to add context to the violence by alleging a connection between the traditional ruler’s reported actions and the security breach. According to the petition seen by journalists and circulating on social media, the monarch allegedly hosted a group of hooded gunmen at his palace in the hours leading up to the police station attack, during which the visitors purportedly fired shots into the air near the royal residence. proponents of the claim say this was an ominous prelude to the larger assault on the community’s security infrastructure.
The youths’ complaint alleges that the monarch’s engagement with armed individuals contributed to deteriorating security conditions in Ipele and facilitated the bandits’ ability to strike with such boldness. They contend that such actions undermine public confidence in traditional leadership and demand that the state government investigate the matter urgently to ensure accountability for any wrongdoing.
At the centre of the controversy is the Ipele community’s fragile security environment, which recent events have demonstrated can be rapidly overwhelmed by coordinated attacks. Residents reported that attackers came in a commando‑style formation, firing indiscriminately before overrunning the police facility, plunging the town into chaos and causing many families to flee their homes for safety in nearby bushes.
The Ondo State Police Command has condemned the assault, describing it as a reprehensible act against the peace and security of the state and denying claims that a church was attacked, emphasising that the gunmen’s target was strictly the police station. A coordinated response involving Police, Military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security stakeholders was deployed shortly after the incident to restore calm and pursue the attackers.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in the aftermath of the attack, convened an emergency security council meeting, directing intensified patrols across Ipele and neighbouring communities and forest areas. In public remarks, he assured residents that security remains a 24‑hour priority and that measures were being taken to prevent a recurrence, including enhanced coordination with security agencies and strategic deployment of tactical units.
The youths’ petition to the governor highlights broader frustrations over perceived lapses in local security and the influential role of community leaders. While state authorities have not publicly confirmed any link between the monarch and the gunmen alleged in the petition, the emergence of such claims reflects a deepening mistrust and heightened fear among residents who feel vulnerable after successive violent incidents.
Security analysts note that the Ipele police station attack is part of a worrying pattern of criminal incursions in southwestern Nigeria, where communities once seen as relatively peaceful are increasingly targeted by well‑armed groups. Civil society organisations and local activists have decried the spate of attacks, warning that without robust intelligence, community policing, and proactive engagement from traditional institutions, such violence could persist or escalate.
The petition from Ipele’s youth leaders also raises intricate questions about the role of traditional rulers in community security. In many parts of Nigeria, monarchs and chiefs are expected to act as custodians of peace and to work closely with security agencies to protect their subjects. Allegations that a monarch may have inadvertently or otherwise engaged with armed individuals in a way that precedes an attack challenges these expectations and underscores the complex interplay between traditional authority and modern security imperatives.
Meanwhile, state authorities have reiterated their resolve to bring the perpetrators of the New Year’s Eve attack to justice, with coordinated manhunts and enhanced security patrols underway. Law enforcement officials have appealed to the public to provide credible intelligence to assist operations, stressing that community cooperation is crucial in dismantling criminal networks and restoring safety.
For residents of Ipele, the attack and subsequent petition by youths mark a turning point in how security and leadership are viewed at the local level. Many families continue to live in caution, wary of further violence, while elders and community stakeholders urge calm and deeper collaboration with government agencies to prevent future attacks.
The controversy surrounding claims against the monarch has yet to be addressed formally by Ondo State authorities. For now, security operations continue amid heightened tension, reflecting the broader challenge faced by communities in safeguarding lives and properties in an era marked by frequent and unpredictable armed incidents.
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