The Kwara State Fire Service has warned individuals and groups against further encroachment, occupation and conversion of its fire station within Mandate Market, Adewole, Ilorin, saying such activities could undermine emergency response and endanger lives and property.

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 Service issued the warning following an inspection of the facility by a team led by its Officer-in-Charge, Administration, which discovered that parts of the station's premises had been occupied by unauthorised structures and individuals.

It also disclosed that the station had previously been burgled, with some firefighting equipment reportedly stolen, including its steel water reservoir tank.

The Service stressed that the Mandate Market station was strategically important because it serves not only the market but also several surrounding communities and commercial areas, including Adewole, Warrah, Oloje and Oko-Olowo.

According to the agency, the station's location allows firefighters to respond quickly to emergencies within its response corridor, particularly during the critical early stages of a fire.

It said the protection of the facility should therefore be viewed as a public safety concern rather than merely an issue involving government property.

The warning comes months after a midnight fire outbreak at Mandate Market destroyed 24 shops. The Service said one of the major challenges encountered during the incident was gaining close access to the affected area with a firefighting appliance.

It explained that fire trucks require sufficient and unobstructed access routes to reach emergencies as quickly and safely as possible.

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

The agency warned that the consequences could be particularly severe in markets where shops are closely packed and combustible materials are stored, as even a short delay could allow a fire to spread rapidly.

The Fire Service also highlighted the historical significance of the Mandate Market station, noting that records indicated that the site was among the earliest government facilities established within the market area.

According to the agency, the location was historically associated with a joint trade fair that attracted traders from different parts of Nigeria before the fire station was constructed in 1989.

The facility was subsequently handed over to the Kwara State Fire Service for firefighting and emergency response operations and has remained part of the state's emergency infrastructure for decades.

The Service warned individuals, groups and entities involved in, planning or encouraging encroachment, unauthorised construction, occupation, conversion or obstruction of the station and its emergency access routes to desist.

"The fire station must remain a fire station," the agency stated.

It maintained that no commercial activity, whether involving temporary or permanent structures, should compromise a facility established to protect lives and businesses.

The Service also called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to protect the integrity of the facility, remove existing encroachments and ensure that emergency access routes remain clear.

While acknowledging the importance of commercial activities and the livelihoods of traders at Mandate Market, the agency stressed that economic activities must operate alongside adequate safety measures.

It described a functional fire station within a major market as a protective asset rather than an opportunity for additional commercial development.

The Fire Service further warned that compromising an existing fire station would be counterproductive at a time when markets across the state were seeking improved fire safety infrastructure following the devastating impact of market fires.

It appealed to all stakeholders to protect the Mandate Market station and allow it to perform its life-saving role.

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

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and said it would continue to take necessary steps, in collaboration with relevant authorities, to safeguard critical firefighting infrastructure across Kwara State.