Eze Kanu Ikenolu, the traditional head of Ndi-Aniche, Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State, had his palace set ablaze by unidentified armed hoodlums.

The thugs launched the attack on the monarch’s home early on Sunday, tossing explosives into the palace. His vehicles and properties were also destroyed in the crossfire.

According to reports, the monarch barely avoided death because he was not home when the criminals showed up at his palace.

A villager who wanted to remain anonymous, for safety reasons, said the thugs destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

The villager was also upset that the police took too long to arrive after being told that the thugs were breaking into the monarch’s home.

He said that the villagers are currently hiding in the bushes after gunmen broke into Ikenolu’s palace.

As at the time of this reporting, the source noted that the police was yet to intervene to stop the thugs from destroying more of the palace, where they have already destroyed vehicles, set fire to parts of the main building, and other assets.

He stated that they questioned whether Arondizuogu is really a part of Imo State because the police rarely intervene when the community is under siege.

Imo Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the incident and stated that attempts were being made to apprehend those responsible.

Okoye claimed that desperate measures are being taken to apprehend the assailants and hold them accountable.