Operatives of Anambra State Fire Service were on Sunday, 1 January 2023, attacked by some angry mob, for arriving late at the scene of a fire incident.
The incident occurred at Atani Road, by Uga Junction, Onitsha, at about 6 pm.
The attackers were said to have shattered the windshield and side mirrors of the fire truck, and also injured some of the operatives.
Anambra State Fire Service Chief, Engr Martin Agbili, in a statement on Monday, described the incident as barbaric and “a bad way to start the new year.”
According to him, “On Sunday 1st January 2023 at about 1800 hours, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire incident at Uga junction by Atani road.
“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 iron at us. Unfortunately, they shattered the windscreen of our fire trucks, and the side glasses and also wounded some firefighters.
“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?’…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. The preparators of this ugly act will surely be brought to book,” Agbali said.
