Ekiti State Government has vowed to prosecute those arrested in connection with the recent attack on officials of the state and federal fire services at Moferere in Ajilosun Area of Ado Ekiti.

The government also cautioned residents of the state against attacking officials and operational vehicles of men of the Fire Service and other public servants in the course of carrying out their official duties.

The Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery and Overseer of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor. Mobolaji Aluko announced this at a news conference in Ado Ekiti.

He said attacks on officials of the fire service and the destruction of their trucks under the guise of protesting against lateness would no longer be tolerated by the state government.

He noted that the officials were recruited to save lives and property during emergencies, adding that threats to their lives could discourage them from putting in their best.

The Director-General said the government would continue to sensitize residents on fire prevention techniques to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks rather than dissipate all its energy and resources to fighting the fire.

The Director-General also reminded residents that despite the fact that Fire service officials were always on standby, distance to the point of fire outbreak and difficulty in locating the address could hamper movement to the venue thereby causing lateness.

He said, “A fire incident occurred at about 8.00 pm at a house in Moferere area of Ado Ekiti and at some point or the other, both the state and federal fire services responded to the call, eventually, the house was completely conflagrated. But what brought us here today is not just the fire itself, but what happened when the Federal Fire Service appliance arrived at the site soon after the call was made. They arrived there, ready to contain the fire, only to be confronted by hundreds of residents and hoodlums throwing stones at their vehicle and the windscreen was smashed’’.

In their remarks, the Director, Ekiti State Fire Services, Mr Gbenga Omoniyi and his Federal Fire Service counterpart, Mr Adeyemi Ariyo condemned the act and called on the state government to prosecute those arrested in connection with the incident.

The officers, who noted that they had the mandate to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state, said their duty was based on humanitarian ground, hence residents must see them as friends of the society.

Amos Ogunrinde

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