A violent confrontation in Osogbo, Osun State, has reignited public concern over the timeliness and coordination of Nigeria’s emergency response services, following an incident where residents attacked federal firefighters for arriving late to a burning vehicle scene.
The attack, which occurred on Thursday near the MDS Road in Osogbo’s bustling Old Garage area, saw a mob pelting personnel of the Federal Fire Service with stones shortly after the flames had been brought under control by civilians. The operatives, deployed from the Federal Fire Service command in Osun, had just arrived when the angry crowd descended on them, accusing the team of negligence.
“I followed my men with my private vehicle immediately we got the distress call,” said Femi Akinjobi, the State Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Osun. “Unfortunately, the moment we arrived, people started throwing stones. My men could not work. They had to leave for their safety. What pained me most was that the police were present and couldn’t stop them.”
Eyewitnesses reported that local traders and passers-by had scrambled for water and fire extinguishers as the vehicle went up in flames, with no fire truck in sight for over 30 minutes. The delayed response, residents say, could have cost lives had the fire spread to nearby shops or fuel stations.
But the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, pushed back on allegations of police inaction. “Our men were on the ground and ensured the situation didn’t escalate. The fire had been mostly subdued by locals before the Federal Fire Service arrived. People were shouting, yes, but they were not physically attacked,” he said.
According to Ojelabi, the fire service initially contacted was the state unit, not the federal one, leading to confusion and further delays. “People were already angry because of the poor response. When the federal officers came, they were shouted at, and they decided to leave.”
The incident exposes deeper structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s disaster management system, including fragmented coordination between federal and state response teams, poor urban fire infrastructure, and the absence of public emergency awareness protocols.
Nigeria recorded staggering losses to fire incidents in 2024, with the Federal Fire Service (FFS) confirming that over ₦67.1 billion worth of property was destroyed across the country. More than 100 lives were lost, even as fire responders saved properties valued at ₦1.94 trillion and about 30,890 lives.
States such as Lagos, Kano, Rivers, and Oyo accounted for a significant number of the fire incidents, with Lagos State alone losing ₦19.52 billion to fire disasters in the same year. According to the Lagos State Government, the state responded to 1,952 emergency fire-related calls, highlighting the scale of fire outbreaks in urban areas.
However, experts have warned that smaller cities such as Osogbo may face greater devastation during fire outbreaks due to limited infrastructure, poor access to water, and weaker emergency response capacity.
A separate study by the CLEEN Foundation in 2023 also flagged a critical issue of public confidence, stating that less than 30% of Nigerians believe the fire service will respond promptly during emergencies. This reflects the growing concern over delayed response times, inadequate equipment, and limited fire service coverage, particularly outside major urban centres.
In Osun, this latest episode has sparked online debate about the readiness of Nigeria’s fire departments. Social media users have circulated videos showing bystanders mocking the fire truck’s arrival and accusing responders of “coming to count ashes.”
As of Friday morning, the Federal Fire Service confirmed there was no damage to its truck or equipment. No injuries were recorded among the firefighters. However, officials have called for improved police protection for responders during operations.
