The Federal Fire Service (FFS) said it was impossible for firefighters to stop the fire disasters at Ochanja market Wednesday because of the heavy traffic at the head bridge and behaviour of angry mob who pelted stones at its men.
The fire accident reportedly destroy large number of property, businesses and lost of lives.
But responding to the incident through a statement signed by its national Public Relation Officer, DSF Ugo Huan, Thursday in Abuja to condole the families of those loved ones and property, the FFS’s Controller General, Liman Ibrahim Alhaji, deeply saddened by the unfortunate fire outbreak.
While expressing his heart felt condolences, the statement said: “The Federal Fire Service received a call about the fire outbreak at about 2pm. The control room at the headquarters in Abuja immediately turned out the nearest Federal Fire Service Station at Asaba, Delta State to attend to the fire. Our men immediately headed to the scene but it was not possible to contend with the heavy traffic at the head bridge and behaviour of angry mob who pelted stones at them. Thus, it was not possible for the firefighters to get to the Scene and fight the fire in such a hostile environment.
“The Federal Fire Service is committed to ensuring the safety of lives and Property, with the procurement of new state of the art firefighting trucks distributed to the 12 zones of the Service across the nation, the Service is always ready to respond to fire outbreaks and other emergencies across the nation and worthy to note that similar situations in recent past in Sokoto, Uyo, Minna, Ibadan, Osun and Lagos were prevented from escalating to a major disaster by Fire Service.
“The case of Ochanja market was an unfortunate one, as one will wonder why individuals will want to attack firefighters that came to help put out fire that was threatening lives and ravaging property.”
The statement appealed to Nigerians “that in as much as the Fire Service is prepared and committed to saving of lives and property in emergencies, their support and cooperation is highly needed to do that.”
