The Lagos State government has announced the impending arraignment of one Uzuokwu Solomon for making a false emergency call to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
The 18-year-old is set to face charges under the Lagos State Fire Service law and Command and Control Centre law 2013.
An investigation by News About Nigeria revealed that Solomon allegedly called the emergency line of the Fire Service on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 5:35 pm from Harmony Estate in the Ajah area of the state and reported a fire emergency within the estate.
The false alarm led to the activation of emergency processes and eventual dispatch of the fire trucks from Lekki Phase II Fire service station.
Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered that there was no fire incident in the estate. Investigations were launched, leading to the arrest of the culprit.
Speaking on the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, expressed her delight in the arrest of the culprit and reiterated the stand of the State government on malicious false calls, hoping that the arrest and consequent arraignment will serve as a deterrent for other misguided citizens who are in the habit of making false calls.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also revealed that false calls have astronomically increased in the last six months, creating panic and confusion among the public and diverting resources from real emergencies.
Making false emergency calls is a criminal offense punishable under the law, and the government has vowed to take more stringent measures to curb the growing menace of false emergency calls.
The emergency response system is crucial in saving lives and property during crises. However, the system can also be overwhelmed by false or hoax calls, leading to a waste of resources, delays in responding to real emergencies, and endangering the lives of both the callers and responders.
It is essential to understand the consequences of making false emergency calls and the impact they have on the entire community. False calls divert resources from real emergencies and increase response times, endangering the lives of people who genuinely need help.
