By Grace Udofia
Nigeria’s Federal Fire Service has condemned the attack on its workers and fire trucks by hoodlums in North Central Kogi State.
In a statement made available by the Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Ugo Huan, the Controller General, Liman Ibrahim, described the attack as unacceptable, adding that those responsible will not go unpunished.
The hoodlums were said to have attacked the firefighters on Wednesday, 9th September 2021 along Felele road while they were trying to put out a car fire at Al-Salam fuel station opposite Kogi State Polytechnic.
The statement reads: “The State command had received a fire call concerning a car fire, while approaching the scene, mob armed with dangerous weapons began to attack the truck which was conveying firefighters.
Thereby destroying parts of the truck and injuring firefighters who are currently receiving treatment at the hospital. This is the second time in Kogi State firefighters will be attacked.
“The matter has since been reported to the Police for investigation and subsequent arrest of those responsible.
The Chief Security Officer of the Kogi State Government house has also been informed.
“Liman who has vowed that those behind this dastardly act will surely be punished reiterates that it is a criminal offense for anyone to attack firefighters or fire truck for whatsoever reasons.
“He further says that his directive of blacklisting any community who continuously attacks firefighters still stands and that henceforth any state government that can not ensure the protection of Federal
“Fire Service firefighters and equipments in their states will leave the Service with no other option but to withdraw its presence from the State, as he will not fold his hands and watch his men been maimed and killed as well as fire trucks worth millions of Naira been destroyed.
“This attack which is one amongst many has further substantiated his call for the establishment of an armed squad in the Federal Fire Service known as Fire Police who will be saddled with the responsibility of protecting firefighters and fire trucks at fire scenes, because this hoodlums are emboldened to attack firefighters because they know that they don’t have the protection of armed men.
“The CG has called on the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Yahya Bello to address this barbaric act by citizens of the state so as to avoid it’s reoccurrence”.
