The mansion of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Joe Igbokwe located in Nnewi, Anambra State was on Sunday set ablaze by unknown gunmen.

Igbokwe, who is an aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State made this known on his Facebook handle.

He said “here it is. My Home in Nnewi has been sacrificed. No life was lost .To God be the glory”.

The identities of the victims who were reportedly hit by stray bullets fired by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have not been ascertained.

An eyewitness told journalists that the gunmen drove from Owerri Road in four Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and stopped at Emecourt Road Junction where they fired gunshots and forced people in the vicinity to scamper for safety.

The hoodlums later headed to the nearby Department of State Services (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) offices and set them ablaze.

He said: “They later drove through Nkwo Nnewi Triangle roundabout and moved towards Nnobi Road.

“Later a military armoured vehicle drove round the town and passed through Emecourt Road.

“There was no exchange of fire as the military and the gunmen did not meet.

“Later, heavy smoke was seen at the country home of Chief Joe Igbokwe whose house is located off the Nnewi – Oba Road.”

Ripples Nigeria gathered that Igbokwe and members of his family were not at home at the time of the incident.

The spokesman of the state police command, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement in Awka.

He said: “At about 2:00 p.m., on October 3, 2021, the command received a distress call of a fire incident in Nnewi.

“The police operatives are currently on ground and the area has since been cordoned off. Further details shall be communicated.”