Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has announced that an 18-year-old, Uzuokwu Solomon, will be arraigned for offences related to making hoax calls for emergency response, punishable under the Lagos State Fire Service Law and Command and Control Centre Law 2013. This was revealed in a statement by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Ololade Agboola.
According to the statement, Solomon allegedly called the emergency line of the Fire Service on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 17:35 hours from Harmony Estate, Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos, reporting a fire emergency within the estate. As a result, emergency processes were activated and fire trucks were dispatched from Lekki Phase II Fire Service Station to the scene. However, upon arrival, it was discovered that there was no fire incident in the estate. The statement further explained that due to the frequency of such false calls in the past, the estate security aided in the investigation that led to the arrest of the culprit.
Consequently, Solomon has been arrested and is scheduled to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction at Ogba Magistrate on April 19, 2023 at 9 am.
Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, expressed her delight in the arrest of the culprit and reiterated the state government’s stance on malicious false calls, which is punishable under the Lagos State laws. She emphasized that the arrest and subsequent arraignment will serve as a deterrent to other “misguided citizens” who engage in the habit of making false calls and misleading emergency responders.
The Lagos Fire Service also highlighted that false calls have seen a significant increase in the last six months, urging the public to desist from such acts that waste resources, time, and put the lives and properties of others at risk.
As the arraignment of Uzuokwu Solomon approaches, the Lagos State Government is taking a firm stance against false calls to emergency services, sending a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated under the law.
