By Daniel Kudayah
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has announced the indefinite closure of its Ejigbo Fire Station following reported repeated assaults on firefighters, calling for an impartial investigation into the incidents.
The Service said the decision was taken to protect its personnel and firefighting equipment after individuals allegedly attacked firefighters at the station on Tuesday, October 13, and reportedly returned on Friday, October 16, 2026, to assault them again.
According to the Service, the first incident was reported to the Ejigbo Police Station. However, the alleged assailants reportedly returned days later and disrupted operations despite the intervention of senior police authorities.
The Controller-General of the Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, condemned the reported attacks, warning that violence against emergency responders could undermine public safety and effective emergency service delivery.
In a press statement, Adeseye said the incidents had raised serious concerns about the safety of firefighters and other emergency responders responsible for protecting lives and property across Lagos State.
She stressed that firefighters must be able to perform their statutory duties without fear of violence, intimidation or unlawful interference, noting that attacks on emergency personnel could compromise operational readiness, delay emergency interventions and expose the public to avoidable risks.
“In view of the security concerns arising from the incidents, Ejigbo Fire Station will be closed indefinitely pending a satisfactory resolution of the matter,” she said.
Adeseye added that personnel and firefighting equipment attached to the station would be temporarily redeployed to an undisclosed location for security reasons.
She explained that the measure was intended to safeguard personnel and equipment while ensuring continuity of emergency response operations in the affected area.
The controller-general called on relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial and professional
investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action in accordance with the law against anyone found responsible.
Reaffirming the Service’s commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos State, Adeseye said it would continue to work with relevant authorities to address the security concerns and ensure that firefighters could carry out their duties in a safe environment.
