The Federal Fire Service (FFS) Command in Cross River State has confirmed an attack on its fire truck and personnel during an operation in Calabar.

The Commanding Officer, Olumayowa Olomola made the confirmation during an interview on Tuesday in Calabar.

Ms Olomola said that five firemen were injured during the attack by some disgruntled members of the public.

She said, “Officials of the federal fire service were attacked, and a fire appliance vandalised around the Goldie axis of calabar metropolis while responding to a fire incident. We heard that they misunderstood us to be from the state fire service which they accused of delayed response.

“We were called by the Cross River Fire Service to respond. This is after they complained of lacking the capacity to respond.”

The fire service official further said that the officers could not disembark to extinguish the fire because of the attack.

Ms Olomola stated the state government had yet to fulfill its promise of providing medical supports for the injured officials. 

She said that the matter had been properly reported to the law enforcement agencies in order to apprehend those behind the acts.

The fire official urged residents to avoid indiscriminate bush burning, and other acts capable of causing fire outbreaks during the dry season.

(NAN)