Four family members rescued as eight trapped in Ilorin building collapse

By Ahmed Olayinka

Four members of a family trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in Ilorin, Kwara State, have been rescued alive as emergency responders intensify efforts to locate others still believed to be trapped, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

The incident occurred at No. 41, Ile Oyan Masalasi Gogoro, beside Gogoro Mosque, Popo Giwa Street in Ilorin West Local government area of the state, where the building collapsed and trapped members of a family of eight.

Those rescued were identified as the father, mother and two children. The mother was immediately taken to a hospital for medical attention, while the other rescued victims were said to be alive.

Rescue operations were intensified following the deployment of an excavator to carefully remove the debris and create access to those still trapped beneath the rubble.

At the time of the latest update, three other family members were still believed to be trapped under the collapsed structure, with emergency responders and community members continuing efforts to rescue them safely.

The Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Hon. AbdulRahman Babatunde Ladan, who monitored the rescue operation at the scene, commended emergency response agencies and residents for their prompt intervention.

Ladan said several government agencies had been mobilised to respond to the emergency, assist in the rescue operation and provide medical attention to victims.

He listed the agencies at the scene to include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kwara State Emergency Management Agency, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Health, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other relevant government personnel.

According to him, about six to seven ambulances had also been deployed to facilitate the evacuation of rescued victims for medical treatment.

The council chairman commended the Kwara State Government for providing the facilities and resources that enabled the various agencies to respond promptly to the incident.

He also praised residents of the community for quickly reporting and disseminating information about the collapse, saying the timely alert contributed to the early mobilisation of emergency responders.

Ladan urged residents to immediately report structural defects to the relevant authorities and evacuate buildings whenever they notice signs that could indicate an imminent collapse.

He cautioned residents against risking their lives in an attempt to retrieve valuables from unsafe buildings.

“Whenever you discover something like this, please escalate it. Get to the point of evacuating yourself and your family members from that building. Life is the priority,” he said.

The chairman further advised prospective builders to comply with approved building standards, use quality materials and engage qualified professionals to supervise construction works.

He stressed that proper adherence to construction standards and quality assessment remained critical to preventing structural failures and protecting lives.

Ladan said the government would continue to examine measures to prevent similar incidents and protect residents, particularly in areas where buildings may pose safety risks.

Meanwhile, rescue operations remained ongoing as emergency responders continued efforts to locate and safely evacuate the remaining trapped family members.