Some residents of Sabo Market, Orile Igbon, in Oyo State, allegedly attacked firefighters on Wednesday night for stopping them from siphoning fuel from a fallen tanker.
The tanker, carrying 33,000 litres of petrol, suffered a tyre burst along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin expressway, causing a spill and a fire outbreak. Firefighters from the Oyo State Fire Service arrived at the scene first, followed by their colleagues from Kwara State.
According to Hassan Adekunle, spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, the Oyo team was violently attacked with stones, damaging their fire truck and shattering its windscreen. The officers had to take refuge at Owode Police Station.
Despite the hostility, firefighters managed to transfer over 10,000 litres of petrol to another tanker, preventing further danger. No casualties were recorded.
Adekunle warned that anyone found guilty of attacking emergency responders would face legal action.
