There was a mild drama yesterday, when some residents of Awkuzu Community, in Oyi Local Council of Anambra State, engaged the state’s fire fighters in a scuffle.

The firefighters, they suspected, were coming to prevent them from scooping fuel from a fuel-laden truck that fell in the area.

The residents, including women and youths, stormed the scene to scoop the fuel immediately the truck fell, spilling its contents along the drainage, but on sighting officials of the state fire service, they started pelting them with stones and other dangerous weapons.

While condemning the act, the State fire service boss, Martins Agbili, warned residents in the state against frequent attacks on firefighters while carrying out their duty.

He said: “When we received a distress call about the incident, I deployed a team of firefighters and fire trucks to the scene.

“On arrival, however, the residents, already immersed in the act, threw caution to the wind and pelted stones at my men as they saw them as a hindrance, ignoring the inherent dangers.

“It took the intervention of officers from the State Police Command and military personnel to rescue the firefighters, as well as disperse and control the situation, given the possibility of an explosion or fire outbreak from the tanker laden with petrol.

“We once again warn residents to cease from such dangerous ventures.”

While reiterating the grave dangers associated with such reckless behaviour, Agbili regretted the alarming frequency with which residents were roasted alive while scooping fuel during similar incidents.

He dismissed the report that Niger Bridge was gutted by fire on Tuesday, saying the fire incident on the bridge was caused by head-on collision between two vehicles, which was contained immediately. (The Guardian)

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