Nigerian Fire Service Threatens To Withdraw Firefighters From Violence Prone States
Nigerian firefighters have become subjects of attacks by angry mobs across different states in Nigeria, putting firefighters at risk.
The Nigerian Fire Service says it would withdraw firemen from states that cannot guarantee the safety of its workers and fire service equipment if attacks against firefighters do not stop.
Liman Ibrahim, the Comptroller General (CG) of the Federal Fire Service said in a statement on Friday, Sept. 10, that the recent attack on firefighters and fire trucks by hoodlums in Kogi State, North-central Nigeria on Thursday, Sept. 9 was condemnable.
In the statement issued by Ugo Huan, the Public Relations Officer of the service, Ibrahim reiterated the criminality of attacking firefighters and vowed that all perpetrators would be brought to book.
“My directive of blacklisting any community (which) continuously attacks firefighters still stands and that henceforth any state government that can not ensure the protection of Federal Fire Service firefighters and equipment in their states will leave the Service with no other option but to withdraw its presence from State,” Ibrahim said.
The Fire Service boss said he will not fold his hands and watch his men being maimed and fire trucks worth millions of naira being destroyed.
Firefighters were attacked and wounded by a mob group on their way to Al-Salam fuel station opposite Kogi State Polytechnic at the scene of a car fire incident following the receipt of an emergency call on Thursday.
“The State command had received a fire call concerning a car fire, while approaching the scene, a mob armed with dangerous weapons began to attack the truck which was carrying firefighters,” the statement read.
While further describing the act on firefighters and fire trucks as unacceptable, Ibrahim noted that was the second time in Kogi State that firefighters were attacked.
The CG made reference to his call for an armed squad in the Federal Fire Service known as Fire Police whose responsibility will be the protection of firefighters and fire trucks at fire scenes.
“Hoodlums attack firefighters because they know that they don’t have the protection of armed men.”
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