An angry mob attacked Anambra State Fire Service employees on for allegedly arriving late to the scene of a fire incident.
This is stated in a statement provided to newsmen in Onitsha on Monday and signed by Mr. Martin Agbili, Director/Fire Chief of the Anambra Fire Service.
According to Agbili, the incident happened at about 6 o’clock in the evening on Atani Road near Uga Junction in Onitsha.
He stated that the attackers hurt some of the personnel and broke the fire truck’s side mirrors and wind shield.
The incident, according to the fire chief, was barbaric and a poor way to start the new year.
According to him, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call about a fire incident at Uga junction by Atani road on Sunday, January 1, 2023, at or around 1800 hours.
“Immediately, our fire truck and fire fighters were deployed to the scene. On arrival to the fire scene, the mob attacked us.
“They threw stones, sticks and irons at us. Unfortunately, they shattered the windscreen of our fire trucks, the side glasses and also wounded some firefighters.
“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,” Agbali said.
