LAGOS – An official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has stressed the need for public enlightenment to end to incessant attacks on emergency responders during disasters.
The South-East Information officer of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, made the call in an interview with the news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.
He cited the case of a fire in Alapere area of Lagos on Sept. 4 during which hoodlums attacked firemen and other emergency response workers at the scene and destroyed water tankers.
“We are appealing against the frequent attacks on emergency responders by the hoodlums during rescue operations.
He said “NEMA officials and fire servicemen are more professional to handle all emergency situations when it occurs but a situation whereby untrained people would be preventing us from doing our work is not acceptable.’’ [eap_ad_1] Farinloye said the safety of responders was very important in emergency management.
“Any threat to their lives means they would think twice before responding to any distress calls if this hostile attitude is not stopped,’’ he said.
Farinloye said that NEMA would embark on an enlightenment campaign to teach the public how to protect responders and avoid increasing danger at disaster scenes.
He said that the campaign would also show how professionals handled disasters, especially fires, to ascertain the roots and secondary causes of fires.
“Professionals are not amateurs as those hoodlums are, the hoodlums fight the fire on the surface, exposing themselves to more danger,’’ he said.
Farinloye added that professionals knew dangerous materials that could increase fires and so “people should try to avoid fighting fire that is beyond their scope.
“They should give room to the responders to work effectively to save lives and reduce destruction and looting of property.’’
He said vanguards or trained vanguards were not encouraged to get close to fire scenes to avoid secondary disasters which could endanger their lives.
Farinloye advised that people make immediate reports of fire disasters to appropriate authorities for immediate response. (NAN)
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