Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Aare Taoreed Adebayo Taiwo, has appealed to residents to remain peaceful following a clash between residents and personnel of the Lagos State Fire Service stationed within the council secretariat, assuring them that security measures have been strengthened to prevent further escalation.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Aare Taiwo described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, disclosing that the council had commenced engagements with relevant state authorities, security agencies and community stakeholders to resolve the disagreement and restore a cordial relationship between residents and the fire service personnel.
The chairman explained that the incident began on Tuesday, October 13, when residents returning from an engagement outside the council area arrived at the secretariat for their accreditation exercise.
According to him, the residents had been conveyed to the stadium in Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, buses before proceeding to the council secretariat, while he was away in Abuja for the inauguration of the PCC.
He said the situation reportedly escalated when rainfall forced some residents to seek shelter in the corridor of the Lagos State Fire Service facility within the secretariat and a junior officer of the fire service instructed the residents to leave the premises and return to the rain, resulting in a disagreement that later degenerated into physical violence.
Aare Taiwo disclosed that the confrontation reportedly left some residents injured, with complaints of torn clothing, missing mobile phones and medical expenses leaving three elderly women to have suffered dislocated arms during the incident.
The chairman, however, commended council officials and the Ejigbo Police Division for their intervention, which he said helped prevent further escalation, noting that the police, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Abiodun Omisore, arrested individuals present at the scene for questioning and commenced an investigation.
The chairman said he was subsequently informed of the incident by the head of the fire service station, who contacted him over the reported injuries and other losses, upon returning from Abuja, consulted relevant stakeholders and gathered information to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation before determining the appropriate steps to address the matter.
He stressed that the council secretariat must remain accessible to residents, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to an open-door policy and people centred governance.
Aare Taiwo further revealed that the council had contacted relevant state authorities, including the leadership of the Lagos State Fire Service through the Office of the Commissioner for Special Duties, as well as the Commissioner of Police, to ensure that the situation remained under control.
He expressed optimism that sustained dialogue among the council, residents, security agencies and fire service officials would help resolve the dispute and prevent a recurrence.
The chairman also appealed to state and federal government agencies operating within the council area to be more accommodating and understanding of residents.
On concerns surrounding the reported closure of the Ejigbo fire station and the withdrawal of firefighting equipment, the chairman acknowledged the importance of maintaining an operational emergency response facility within the community and explained that the station’s proximity to residential areas was essential for prompt intervention during fire outbreaks and other emergencies.
He said the council will continue engaging the Lagos State Fire Service to resolve the disagreement and facilitate the restoration of cooperation, expressing his administration’s desire to see the service resume operations within the community.
However, he did not announce a specific date for the reopening of the station or the return of its firefighting equipment.
In the meantime, the chairman said security personnel and community based safety structures had been mobilised to monitor developments and respond to emerging concerns.
These include local community vigilantes, the Community Policing Network, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the police and urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly to the appropriate authorities while remaining peaceful and law abiding.
Aare Taiwo reaffirmed that the welfare and security of residents remained priorities for his administration, expressing confidence that cooperation among all parties would restore cordial relations and ensure that essential emergency services remain accessible to the community.