The Federal Fire Service has confirmed that the driver of one of its fire trucks involved in a fatal road crash in Wuse 2, Abuja, has been handed over to the police for investigation.
The tragic incident, which occurred late Friday night, claimed the lives of three teenagers and left another critically injured.
According to the FCT Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Momodu Ganiyu, the crash happened around 11:00 PM while the fire truck was returning to base to refill its water tank after responding to a fire emergency at Avenue Plaza, Banex.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ganiyu described the accident as a devastating loss. “As a service, we deeply regret the unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of three young citizens. We understand the immeasurable pain this has brought to the families involved,” he said.
He explained that the accident occurred when the fire truck, moving at high speed with its sirens activated, collided with a Toyota Camry that was emerging from a side street in Wuse. “The truck was en route to refill water when the unfortunate collision happened. It was an operational emergency, and the truck was navigating with urgency,” Ganiyu noted.
In response to the incident, the Controller-General of the Fire Service has ordered a full-scale investigation to determine the cause and responsibilities. As part of the immediate response, the FFS has suspended all personnel on duty at the FCT rescue center pending the conclusion of the probe.
“We have already handed over the driver to the police for further investigation, and we are cooperating fully to ensure transparency,” Ganiyu stated. “We also assure the affected families that the Service stands with them in this moment of grief and will provide necessary support.”
He further emphasized the FFS’s commitment to public safety and accountability, pledging that measures would be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
