The Kwara State Fire Service has warned individuals and groups against further encroachment, occupation or conversion of its fire station within Mandate Market, Adewole, Ilorin.

The Service said the development could undermine emergency response and put lives and property at risk.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Service’s spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, on behalf of the Chief Fire Officer, Muhammed Alabi.

The statement followed an inspection of the station by a team led by the Service’s Officer-in-Charge, Administration, which observed that portions of the premises had been taken over by unauthorised structures and occupants.

The Service also disclosed that the facility had previously been burgled, resulting in the theft of firefighting equipment, including its steel water reservoir tank.

It said the Mandate Market Fire Station serves the market and surrounding communities, including Adewole, Warrah, Oloje and Oko-Olowo, making its strategic location critical to rapid emergency response.

According to the Service, the importance of maintaining unobstructed access to the facility was underscored by a midnight fire at Mandate Market months ago, which destroyed 24 shops.

It said firefighters encountered difficulty accessing the affected area with their fire appliance due to obstructions.

“Where such routes are blocked by shops, structures or other forms of encroachment, valuable response time is lost,” the statement said.

The Service warned that delays could have serious consequences in markets where shops are closely packed and combustible materials are stored, as fires could quickly spread to neighbouring businesses.

It said historical records showed that the facility was among the earliest government establishments within the market area and was eventually handed over to the Kwara State Fire Service in 1989 for firefighting and emergency response operations.

The agency warned individuals and entities involved in or contemplating unauthorised construction, occupation, conversion or obstruction of the station and its access routes to desist.

“The fire station must remain a fire station,” it stated.

The Service acknowledged the importance of commercial activities and traders’ livelihoods but stressed that such activities must not compromise public safety or emergency response infrastructure.

It called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to address existing encroachments and ensure that access routes to the facility remained clear.

The Service also urged stakeholders to protect the station, describing it as a critical public safety facility rather than an opportunity for additional commercial development.

“Emergency infrastructure must not be sacrificed for temporary economic gain,” the agency said.

It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and pledged to work with relevant authorities to safeguard critical firefighting infrastructure across Kwara State.