Some residents of Sabo Market, Orile Igbon, along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin expressway in Oyo State allegedly attacked firefighters that prevented them from siphoning fuel from a fallen tanker.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, the tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), had suffered a tyre burst on Tuesday night, January 28, resulting in a spill and subsequent fire outbreak.
It was gathered that the officers of the Oyo State Fire Service, Ogbomoso branch, had responded to the emergency before the arrival of their colleagues in the Kwara State Fire Service, due to closeness to the scene of the incident.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, who confirmed the incident in a statement, condemned the attack, adding that the firefighters were forced to seek refuge at a police station.
“On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 20:27 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded swiftly to a distress call reporting a tanker spill at Sabo Market, Orile Igbon, along the Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State. The tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), had suffered a tyre burst, resulting in a spill and subsequent fire outbreak,” the statement read.
“Upon arrival, our firefighters immediately initiated mitigation efforts to contain the situation and prevent further escalation. Through their swift and coordinated response, over 10,000 litres of PMS were safely siphoned into another tanker, minimizing potential hazards. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and no injuries were reported.
“During our investigation, it was confirmed that the incident was triggered by a tyre burst, which led to the tanker spill and the resulting fire.”
“Prior to our arrival, the Oyo State Fire Service, Ogbomoso branch, had already responded to the emergency.
“However, it is deeply concerning that their personnel were violently attacked with stones, leading to severe damage to their fire truck, including a shattered windscreen. In the face of this hostility, they were forced to seek refuge at Owode Police Station,” he lamented.
The Director of the Kwara state fire service also condemned such attacks on firefighters and urged the public to desist from obstructing emergency responders.
“Any individual found guilty of assaulting fire service personnel will face the full weight of the law. Firefighters risk their lives to protect people and property, and any act of violence against them is unacceptable,” he said.
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