By SaharaReporters, New York

The Abeokuta mansion of Nigeria's former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, today went up in flames, reports monitored in New York say.

It is unclear at this time whether Obasanjo was in the palatial estate when the fire started, or how much damage was done, but some reports say that his personal bedroom was damaged.

Some of the accounts say the fire brigade has arrived at the premises and is trying to put out the blaze.

The estate also includes a church that Obasanjo built after he left office.

Updates from African Spotlight below:

The fire reportedly started at about 4:30pm.

It gutted Obasanjo’s office within the building and it is not yet clear what caused it.

Report says members of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service and close friends of the ex-president battled to contain the fire from spreading to other parts of the sprawling estate.

Ogun State Fire Service truck marked OG 122 AO9 roared into the compound an hour after the fire was detected and was joined by another ten minutes later.

obj to fire service - i.diot! urry up and come, dis people are burning my money... dey want to finish me! awon oloriburuku modafu.cka Olorun o gba mi o...