The Oyo State police have arrested some suspects following an attack on officials of the state fire service while responding to a fire outbreak in Saki, Oke Ogun axis of the state.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening when a fire broke out at a petroleum filling station located around the Orogun, Isale Adinni area of the town. Firefighters, who were said to have responded promptly after receiving a distress call, came under attack while heading to the scene.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the emergency responders were ambushed by a large group of hoodlums, who reportedly unleashed violence on the crew, leaving some of them injured. The attackers also vandalised the fire service vehicle, smashing its windscreen and inflicting extensive damage on the body of the truck with stones and cutlasses.
It was learnt that the firemen narrowly escaped further harm and later reported the incident at the Saki Divisional Police Headquarters. To forestall further violence, the damaged fire tender was moved to the police station.
Confirming the development on Saturday, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, described the attack as unfortunate and deeply troubling.
According to him, the police have commenced a full investigation into the matter and have already taken some suspects into custody in connection with the assault.
Akinwande appealed to residents to view firefighters as partners in safety rather than targets of hostility, stressing that cooperation from the public remains critical to effective emergency response.
He warned that attacks on emergency personnel not only endanger lives but also undermine collective efforts to protect lives and property during times of crisis.
