Five gunmen suspected to be assassins on Monday broke into the residence of Chief Dikivie Ikiogha in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

It was gathered that the suspected assassins, who were armed with AK47 rifles, gained access into the expansive compound located at Kpansia area at about 2am.

But Ikiogha, a close friend and ally of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Chief of Staff to Governor Seriake Dickson, was not in the house when the gunmen struck.

Ikiogha had parted ways with Dickson and pitched his political tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he made an unsuccessful attempt to contest the governorship election against Dickson but failed to secure APC ticket which went to Timpre Sylva.

The hoodlums reportedly scaled the high fence of the building and found a policeman guarding the house fast asleep with his rifle.

They were said to have seized the policeman’s rifle, tied him up before breaking into one of the rooms in the building.

A source from the house, who spoke in confidence, described the incident as scary adding that God saved the chief for not being around when the gunmen came into the apartment.

He said the hoodlums operated for an hour between 2am to 3am before leaving the house.

He said: “After tying up the policeman, the gunmen cut the iron protective device in one of the windows and entered the room. They held one of the domestic servants at gunpoint and ordered him to lead them to the chief’s room.

“When they got to the room, the only saw the wife. They asked the wife to produce her husband. But the woman insisted he travelled.

“They told her they came for the chief but that since he was not around she should give them all the money in the house. The woman was able to give them some money. They left promising to come back for him again.”

The source said before the attack, the chief complained that his life was being threatened by some unknown persons.

“He was once complained that people were after his life. He said it could be in connection with his recent statement on issues affecting the state,” the source said.

When contacted, Ikiogha, declined to give details of the incident, claiming that divulging such details may jeopardise ongoing investigation.