By MUFTAU OGUNYEMI

The Police Command in Ondo State says no church was attacked and no life lost during an attack by gunmen at Ipele community of Owo Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday night.

DSP Jimoh Kazeem, the command’s Spokesperson, who made this known in a statement on Thursday in Akure, said it was only the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters that was attacked and razed.

“The command clarifies that, contrary to reports circulating on social media, no church was attacked during the incident.

“According to preliminary reports, at about 9:41 p.m., a group of armed men numbering between 20 and 30 invaded the police station, firing assault rifles and deploying dynamite.

“The attackers set the station ablaze, leading to the destruction of the building and several exhibits. However, no life was lost in the attack as of the time of this report.

“Upon receipt of the report, a joint patrol comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, and other non-state actors promptly mobilised to the scene,” he said.

The spokesperson, however, said the attackers had already carried out the act before their arrival.

Kazeem also said the Commissioner of Police (CP) strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a tragic and reprehensible act against the peace and security of Ondo State.

According to him, the CP urges the public to remain calm and assures that the situation is firmly under control.

“Consequently, the CP has the immediate deployment of additional operational assets, including tactical teams, Explosive Ordnance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) units,

“Police Mobile Force personnel are also deployed to the area while the situation is under control.

“A coordinated manhunt for the attackers is currently underway. Further developments will be communicated in due course,” he said. (NAN)