Some angry residents of the Old Garage area of Osogbo, Osun State capital have attacked operatives of the Federal Fire Service over alleged delay in responding to a vehicle fire incident.
The chaos reportedly erupted near MDS Road after a vehicle was said to have caught fire.
According to reports, eyewitnesses said sympathisers tried to put out the flames with water and fire extinguishers before the arrival of fire service operatives.
However, the residents’ anger arose when the fire personnel arrived after the blaze had been largely extinguished.
The mob reportedly threw stones and other objects at the firefighters on arrival at the scene, preventing them from alighting from their fire truck.
It was gathered that the situation turned chaotic as the angry residents issued threats, forcing the operatives to hastily retreat to avoid further confrontation.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Femi Akinjobi, who confirmed the incident, described the attack as unprovoked and regrettable, stressing that his men responded immediately upon receiving a distress call from the Osun State Fire Service.
“I personally accompanied my men in a private car to the scene. Unfortunately, the moment we got there, hoodlums began throwing stones at us. My officers had to leave the scene for their safety. They couldn’t even begin firefighting operations,” Akinjobi lamented.
He further decried the absence of police intervention, expressing disappointment over the failure of security operatives present to control the situation.
“The most painful aspect was that police operatives were at the scene, yet they couldn’t do anything to stop the mob attack,” he added.
