Tragedy struck in Ilorin on Tuesday morning after a three-storey building collapsed at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, killing four members of the same family.

The incident occurred around 5:00am. Eight people were initially trapped under the rubble, according to eyewitnesses and emergency officials.

The Kwara State Fire Service and SEMA confirmed that 4 victims were rescued alive while 4 others died.

An eyewitness, Abdulganiy Mus, said the father of the family is a serving soldier, while the mother works as casual staff at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Ilorin.

Among those rescued alive was a child identified as Firdaus, said to be the second-to-last child of the family.

An excavator was deployed to help remove debris. Several agencies joined the operation including the Fire Service, SEMA, NEMA, NSCDC, Red Cross, and health officials.

About 6-7 ambulances were also deployed to evacuate survivors and the deceased to hospital.

Speaking for the state government, Commissioner for Education, Lawal Olohungbebe, who represented Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRaza, described the incident as unfortunate. He commiserated with the victims’ families.

“The rescue mission began immediately after the collapse and, to the glory of God, some were rescued, but unfortunately, we have to take it as this,” he said.

Olohungbebe stressed the importance of access routes to residential areas, saying it helped emergency workers respond swiftly. He urged residents and developers to comply with building and town-planning regulations.

Fire Service PRO, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed: _“We have recovered four people dead and rescued four people alive.”_

He said the cause of the collapse would be determined after proper assessment. If needed, authorities will order demolition.

SEMA Secretary, Magaji Saadudeen, said the rescued victims are currently receiving treatment.

Kwara CP, Ojo Adekim, said the collapsed portion was the boys’ quarter of the three-storey building. He added that everyone had been evacuated from the main building and urged residents to report structural defects like leakages.

The Chairman of Ilorin West LGA, AbdulRahman Babatunde Lada, also commended emergency agencies and residents for their prompt response.

Source:  Punch news, Kwara State Fire Service, SEMA, Kwara Police Command.