Some operatives of the Anambra State Fire Service have been attacked by a group of mob over their alleged lateness to the scene of a fire incident on Sunday.
The incident reportedly happened around 6: 00 pm at Atani Road, by Uga Junction, Onitsha area of the state.
This was made known by the Director/Fire Chief of Anambra Fire Service, Martin Agbili, in a statement he signed and issued to journalists in Onitsha on Monday.
According to the Fire Service boss, the mob destroyed the truck the operatives drove to the scene, broke the windscreen and side mirrors, and also injured some of the operatives.
In his reaction, the director condemned the act, describing it as barbaric and a bad way to start the New Year.
According to him, “On Sunday, January 1, 2023, at about 1800 hours, Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call of fire incident at Uga junction by Atani road.
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“Immediately our fire truck and firefighters were deployed to the scene. On arrival at the fire scene, the mob attacked us.
“They threw stones, sticks and irons at us. Unfortunately, they shattered the windscreen of our fire trucks, and the side glasses and also wounded some firefighters.”
In continuation, he said, “As they started throwing stones on the fire truck while the fire was still on, what we could hear was, ‘is it now that you people are coming to fight the fire?’
“We managed to escape the mob attack with our shattered windscreen and some injured firefighters.
“This gift of New Year is really unfortunate, that our hardworking firefighters of Anambra State will be welcomed to the New Year with this barbaric act.
“Perpetrators of this ugly act will surely be brought to book.”