Judges and workers of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ran for their dear lives following a sudden heavy fire alarm that sounded repeatedly at the court complex.
Justices Peter Lifu and James Omotosho, who were delivering judgments when there was fire alarm, ran away from their courtrooms alongside lawyers and journalists to avoid being trapped in the fire outbreak.
The tension and apprehension that followed the fire alarm worsened when a warning message from the public address system came, ordering the judges, lawyers, and workers to find their way out of their respective offices.
The message warned the occupants to exit immediately, and avoid using the elevator in their interest, to prevent being trapped in the machine.
In the drama that followed, several people, especially lawyers, abandoned their law book bags as well as other items, using the staircase to escape from the building.
The court workers, judges, lawyers, journalists, and others at the court complex were gathered outside the building, trying to identify the direction of the fire outbreak, when a team of firefighters appeared and calmed the situation.
The firefighters, led by one Innocent Itodo, announced to the chagrin of everyone that the fire alarm was false, as they were only carrying out a fire simulation exercise at the court.
Itodo said the simulation was part of efforts to sensitize court staff on safety measures in the event of a fire outbreak.
His explanation was, however, greeted with resentment by lawyers and court workers who felt that the method adopted was strange and crude, as it caused a lot of apprehension.
The angry workers said they were caught unaware as the exercise commenced unexpectedly when the fire alarm sounded across the premises, prompting an immediate evacuation.
The sudden and unexpected blare of the fire alarm triggered panic and apprehension among court staff and visitors.
The officers of the Federal Fire Service, led by CSF Innocent Itodo, while addressing the court staff after the evacuation, emphasised the importance of being prepared for emergencies and adhering strictly to safety procedures during such incidents while remaining calm.
“What just happened now is what we call a simulation exercise, so it is not a prank; it is just to create awareness.
“We are gradually approaching the ember months, and the ember months are months when fire incidents are always on the increase.
“We happen to find ourselves in a high rise building such as this so when you hear the fire alarm, you must proceed to the exit point nearest to you, do not run back into the building to pick phone, bag or anything you forgot. You must secure your life first,” he said.
Itodo noted that the initial confusion underscored the importance of regular fire drills in ensuring that people were mentally and physically prepared to react appropriately in real emergencies.
He said it was important not to use the elevator where there was a fire outbreak, as power could be turned off by the firefighters.
“When the fire alarm triggers, the emergency responders, when they come, will switch off the power supply, and that can lead to you being trapped in the lift.
“So please, whenever you hear the sound of the alarm, whatever floor you are on, do not use the lift even if it is still on, use the staircase, and as you are using the staircase, keep to the right because the emergency responders will enter the building using the left.
“Please do not run, do not panic, leave what you are doing, and move as fast as you can to the nearest exit.
“I observed that some of you were running which can lead to a stampede which can lead to serious injury and eventually death,” he said.
Some staff of the court, after the initial panic, noted that even though the exercise caused a lot of panic, they appreciated the fire service for the exercise.
They noted that such initiatives were vital in ensuring the safety and preparedness of all court staff.
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