After the Tuesday shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos by unknown soldiers from 81 Division of the Nigerian Army that left over 27 injured and some killed, there were reprisals across Lagos State.
This resulted in vandalisms, looting, killings and multiple fire incidents that were never contained by any fire emergency service in the state.
In a fit of rage the next day Wednesday October 21, a total of 17 police stations, BRT bus stations, emergency and safety services, private and public facilities, media houses, fire trucks and shopping malls were engulfed by fire either totally or partially.
The affected properties include: the family house of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Television Continental (TVC), The Nations, several BRT buses at Oyingbo Yaba Terminals and Berger; NPA Headquarters in Marina; Bella’s Place; Circle Mall; Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS); Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) alongside fire trucks and other vehicles.
On how these buildings were simultaneously in aggressive flames and no emergency responders saved the day, the DG/CEO, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the fire service response line developed a fault.
He noted, “Our emergency response lines (112/767) developed a fault early hours of Monday morning and despite a number of failsafes and temporary fixes, went into shutdown mode on Tuesday.”
Oke-Osanyintolu continued that to forestall any incident, they circulated alternative numbers including the direct line of the DG/CEO.
On allegations that the state fire service deliberately refused to respond to emergency calls, the CEO clarified, “We also wish to categorically debunk the allegation that there were any ‘instructions’ not to respond to incidents.
“Our personnel were simply terrified by the angry mob that stormed the Lekki Dispatch Centre last night”.
In the words of the DG their vehicles were not only attacked, the state fire service was also attacked, which forced the firemen to retreat despite the multiple fire recorded across the state.
