Picnews
Four members of the same family have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building at Popo Giwa area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday morning.
The building, located at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, near Gogoro Mosque, collapsed around 5am, trapping eight members of the family beneath the debris.
An eyewitness, Abdulganiy Musa, told Channels Television during the rescue operation that the father of the family is a serving soldier, while the mother works as a casual staff member at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin.
Rescue workers battled to evacuate those trapped under the rubble, with a child identified as Firdaus, the second-to-last born of the family, among those rescued alive. An excavator was later brought to the scene to aid the operation and clear the debris.
Emergency and security agencies, including the Kwara State Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, medical teams, and other responders, participated in the rescue efforts. Ambulances were deployed to transport survivors and victims to the hospital.
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the deaths and injuries, stating that it received a distress call around 5am about the collapsed building. Its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, said the agency worked alongside other emergency bodies to rescue victims and assess the cause of the collapse.
Adekunle added that authorities would determine whether the remaining structure was safe or required demolition after proper assessment.
The Kwara State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) disclosed that eight people were trapped in the building, noting that rescued victims and the bodies of the deceased were taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, revealed that it was a section of the building, identified as the boys’ quarters, that collapsed. He said the remaining part of the building had been evacuated pending further safety checks.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, who represented Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the scene, described the incident as unfortunate and commiserated with the victims’ families.
He praised the quick response of emergency agencies and urged residents and developers to comply with building regulations and ensure proper construction standards.
The Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Area, AbdulRahman Ladan, also warned residents and developers against ignoring structural defects, stressing the need to prioritise safety and engage qualified professionals during construction.
