The Controller General, Federal Fire Service Dr. Liman Ibrahim has vehemently condemned the attack on firefighters and fire trucks by hoodlums at Felele community in Lokoja, assuring that the perpetrators of the heinous act would be brought to book.
Ibrahim stated this in a statement issued by the Public Relation Officer of the service and made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Friday.
According to the statement , the attack occurred on Wednesday along Felele road when firefighters were making a concerted effort to put off a car engulfed by fire at Al-Salam fuel station opposite Kogi State Polytechnic.
“The State command received a call concerning a car engulfed by fire, while approaching the scene, mob suspected to be hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons began to attack the truck which was conveying the firefighters.
“They destroyed parts of the truck and injured officers who are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Lokoja. 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 the perpetrators. The Chief Security Officer of the Kogi State Government House has also been informed” the statement added.
Dr. Ibrahim who has vowed that those behind the dastard act will surely be punished, noted that the attack is a criminal offence and must be checked to put an end to such behaviour.
He further reaffirmed that his directive of blacklisting any community that 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 than to withdraw its presence from the State.
“I can not fold my hands and watch my men been maimed and killed as well as fire trucks worth millions of naira been destroyed by the same people we are trying to safe their property” he said.
The Controller General however called for the establishment of an armed squad in the Federal Fire Service known as Fire Police that would be saddled with the responsibility of protecting firefighters and fire trucks at fire scenes.
“This hoodlums are fond of attacking firefighters because they know that they don’t have the protection of armed men” he said.
