Four Family Members Die in Ilorin Building Collapse

Four members of the same family have died after a three-storey building collapsed in the Popo Giwa area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred at about 5am at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, trapping eight members of the family beneath the rubble. Emergency responders immediately mobilised to the scene to search for survivors.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed that four people were rescued alive, while four others were recovered dead from the collapsed structure. The rescued victims were taken to hospital for medical attention.

An eyewitness said 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 in Ilorin.

One of the children, identified as Firdaus, was among those rescued alive as emergency workers and residents searched through the debris.

An excavator was deployed to help remove the rubble and create access to areas where victims were believed to be trapped. Several emergency and security agencies, including the fire service, State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, police and the Red Cross, participated in the rescue operation.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, said the collapsed section was the boys’ quarters attached to the three-storey building. He said all occupants had been evacuated from the remaining part of the structure while authorities assessed its safety.

The police commissioner urged residents to pay attention to warning signs such as cracks, leakages and other structural defects and to leave buildings immediately when they notice signs of possible collapse.

The cause of the collapse has not yet been established. The Kwara State Fire Service said a proper assessment of the structure would be conducted before authorities determine what caused the failure.

Kwara State officials who visited the scene described the incident as tragic and commended the emergency responders for their efforts. They also urged developers and property owners to comply with building regulations, use appropriate materials and engage qualified professionals during construction.

The Ilorin West Local Government chairman, AbdulRahman Ladan, also appealed to residents to report structural defects promptly and evacuate buildings whenever they notice signs of danger.

The incident has left the affected family and the surrounding community mourning, while authorities continue to assess the remaining structure and provide assistance to the survivors.