An angry mob, mostly youths, on Monday, attacked men of the Anambra State Fire Service and destroyed their vehicles while they were on their way to a fire scene at Uga Junction, by Atani Road, near Onitsha.
The firefighters sustained injuries while their truck’s windscreens and side glasses were shattered.
It was gathered that the angry youths, who accused the firemen of arriving at the scene late, attacked them with stones, sticks and others while the fire rages.
Confirming the incident, the state Fire Chief, Mr Martin Agbili, described it as unfortunate, insisting that the perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted.
Agbili said although no life was lost; his men escaped the mob attack narrowly, adding that it was a wrong way to start the New Year.
He said, “I want to show my utmost dismay on this ugly treatment meted on Anambra State Fire Service on January 1, 2023, at Uga Junction by Atani Road, Onitsha. It was a massive mob attack on our fire truck and our firefighters.
“On Sunday, January 1, 2023, at about 1800 hours, Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call of a fire incident at Uga junction by Atani Road.
“Immediately, our fire truck and freighters 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 fire-fighters.
“As they started throwing stones at 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?’
“As the throwing of stones, sticks and irons increased, we managed to escape the mob attack with our shattered windscreen and some injured fire-fighters.
“This gift of the new year is unfortunate, that our hardworking fire-fighters will be welcomed to the New Year with this barbaric act. The perpetrators of this ugly act will surely be brought to book.”
