FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED IN KWARA THREE-STOREY BUILDING COLLAPSE
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Rutherford Ejike Uwandu
ILORIN, KWARA STATE — Four members of the same family have died following the collapse of part of a three-storey building at Popo Giwa, Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, leaving eight members of the family trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene as rescue efforts commenced. Four victims were eventually rescued alive, while four others were recovered dead from the collapsed structure.
Among those rescued was a child identified as Firdaus, who was pulled from the debris during the ongoing operation.
Several emergency and security agencies participated in the rescue effort, including the Kwara State Fire Service, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Red Cross and other first responders.
Ambulances were also deployed to the scene to evacuate rescued victims and transport the bodies of those who died to a hospital.
An eyewitness said the father of the family was a serving soldier, while the mother was reportedly a casual staff member at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) in Ilorin.
The development has generated concern among residents of the area, particularly over the safety of buildings and the need for strict compliance with construction standards.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, who confirmed the incident, said the collapsed section was the boys’ quarters attached to the three-storey building.
According to the police commissioner, all occupants of the main building had been evacuated as a precautionary measure pending a comprehensive assessment of the structure.
He said the authorities were taking necessary steps to prevent further danger to residents and members of the public.
The exact cause of the collapse had not been established as of the time of filing this report.
Authorities said a proper structural assessment would be carried out to determine what led to the failure of the building.
Building collapses remain a major public safety concern in several parts of Nigeria, with experts and regulatory authorities repeatedly stressing the importance of approved building plans, quality construction materials, proper supervision and the involvement of qualified professionals.
Residents in the affected community have also been urged to cooperate with emergency and regulatory agencies while the structural assessment is conducted.
Authorities further advised property owners, developers and builders to adhere strictly to building regulations and safety standards to reduce the risk of structural failures and loss of lives.
The incident has left the affected community mourning as emergency officials continued to secure the area and assess the condition of the remaining structure.
Popo Giwa, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Popo Giwa is an urban community in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. The area contains residential properties and other community facilities, including places of worship. The building collapse occurred at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, during the early morning hours when occupants were inside the building.
