Some residents of Sabo Market, Orile Igbon, along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin expressway in Oyo state on Tuesday night attacked firefighters that prevented them from siphoning fuel for fallen petrol-laden tanker.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), had suffered a tyre burst, resulting in a spill and subsequent fire outbreak.
It was also learnt 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.
Speaking on the incident, the Head, Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, on behalf of the director of the service, lamented that it was, “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”.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service 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.
“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.
“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”.
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