Following Tuesday attack, crisis brew among Oyo firefighters over hazard allowance

There is crisis brewing among officials of the Oyo State Fire Services following the attack on some of its officials in Ibadan on Tuesday by a mob during a rescue operation.

The officials were called for a rescue operation at a private residence located at Akingbola area of Bodija in Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.

The firefighters responded to the call quickly but it was revealed that their water finished halfway in the process and while no life was lost, several valuable items were said to be destroyed.

The people then attacked the firefighters and beat them mercilessly, leading to grievous physical damages.

The fire services in an official confirmation of the incident had stated that, “it is true that some of our men were attacked and wounded. We responded immediately after we received a distress call, but the water finished during the operation. But unfortunately, our men were mobbed as they were preparing to leave the scene to get more water.

“They did not allow them to carry our hoses and they were mercilessly beaten in the presence of some members of Operation Burst meant to safeguard us. One of them is critically wounded and currently receiving medical attention in the hospital. It is so pathetic.”

Nigerian Tribune investigations revealed that the officer who was most affected was first taken to Skyline Specialist hospital in Abayomi area before he was moved to another hospital at Ring Road area where they had to first pay N20, 000 consultation fee

Currently, for him to able to use his legs, he will need N180, 000 for special casting or N900, 000 for surgery, depending on the final advice of the doctors.

This development has caused tension among the firefighters who are of the view that the state government is not concerned about them or their welfare in spite of the dangers they face in the line of duty.

They claim that the government is paying lip service to their well being especially on the issue of their hazard allowance, adding that they have been raising the issue with their General Manager for long but he only assures them that government is working on it but they have nothing to show for his countless assurances

In particular, the firefighters highlighted that they have continued to work under poor conditions of service; 50 naira hazard allowance, no uniform allowance, inadequate work tools and other poor conditions of service, including lack of security during operations.

Speaking on a condition of anonymity, one of the firefighters told Nigerian Tribune that “we face a lot of harrassment and assault in the line of duty but government seems unbothered. See what happened to our colleagues on Tuesday just because they want to do their jobs and save lives and property.

“See the fate of our personnel who may not be able to use his leg again if care is not taken. This is unfair that we will suffer this fate while security agents that the government gave cars watch them suffer at the hands of irrational people.

“We lack working tools and are doing the best with what we have. The tender is leaking and we have a government that had a budget for security of lives and poperties; yet, we can’t buy new tenders to enable firefighters do their work well.

“There is need for massive repairs of equipment and more importantly, make provisions for the hazard allowance that the government promised that they will add to the 2023 budget which till now remains elusive.

“This is bad and unfair. The victim is still in hospital and it seems no one cares,” he said

Efforts to reach the General Manager of the state fire services, Yemi Akinyinka, were unsuccessful as he didn’t pick his call nor respond to messages.