LAGOS WARNS AGAINST ATTACK ON FIREMEN
Lagos State Government has warned the general public to desist from the act of attacking the officials of the Lagos State Fire Service or face the full wrath of the law as over five firemen were recently attacked from various locations in the State. The State observed with dismay the frequent attacks of its officials and obstruction of same from carrying out their official duties by unidentified hoodlums.
The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasack Fadipe while lamenting the extent of the injuries inflicted on the officers confirmed that over five officers were seriously injured at Idewu Street, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle and Odunsi Street Itire-Suru Lere Areas of the State. Describing the Officers as dedicated and hardworking whose motive was to save lives and properties. According to him the gallant officers responded to distress calls and were about to carry out their statutory duties when the hoodlums who wanted to avail themselves of the opportunity to loot and steal from the fire victims saw them as obstacle and started attacking, stabbing and chasing them from the scene of fire outbreak.
Fadipe explained further that a senior officer’s ear was stabbed with a broken bottle, bottle broken on one’s head while others were manhandled. In order to prevent confrontation and breakdown of law and order, the officials retreated and run for their lives. The mayhem was reported at Tolu and Itire Police stations respectively and led to the damage of a fire truck. He commended the Divisional Police Officer at Itire for intervening and rescuing the officers from further assault.
The Fire boss therefore appealed to members of the public to desist from damaging government facilities as lots of tax payers money were expended in providing the amenities for the safety of Lagosians and also explained the negative consequence of unwarranted but coordinated attacks on fire trucks as an indirect denial of other people to benefit from dividend of democracy as damaged truck cannot be in good condition to serve the need of Lagosians. He assured all and sundry of the readiness of the officers to fight fires whenever call upon.