A very scary fire incident occurred on Saturday at the Nkwelle Ezunaka area near Onitsha Anambra State, causing quite a stir.
The fire incident occurred when a tanker conveying petroleum product fell into a ditch in the community.
Eyewitnesses said that the tanker driver lost control and fell into the ditch, spilling its content which resulted in a fire in the area.
It was gathered that residents fled their homes for fear of being trapped in the flames.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that things got worse when firefighters deployed in the area were chased away by mob protesting their delay in arriving at the scene.
The mob was said to have pelted the fire-fighters with stones, causing the fire-fighters to make a U-turn and left the area.
Confirming the incident, Head, Anambra State Fire Service, Mr Martin Agbili, lamented the poor attitude of the community’s members towards the fire-fighters.
Agbili, however, said that police and members of Nkwelle Ezunaka community vigilantes were able to render assistance that helped the fire-fighters to return and do their job.
He added that two persons who were involved in pelting stones at his men had been arrested, while others fled the scene.
He said, “It is an ugly action of people towards fire-fighters and fire service. My men and the first fire trucks got to the fire scene of T-Junction, Nkwelle and people started pelting them with stones. People should understand that fire-fighters are only coming to render help when there is fire outbreak and they are not the cause of the fire.”
