Ilorin Building Collapse: Four rescued, four feared dead as Fire Service leads operation

By Ahmed Olayinka

‎Four people have been rescued alive while four others were recovered and suspected dead following the collapse of part of a two-storey building at Masalasi Gogoro, Popo-Giwa/Abemi area of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

‎This was contain in a statement made available by the PRO / Head Media unit, Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, MBA on Tuesday.

‎The incident occurred at about 5:08 a.m., with the collapsed structure located adjacent to Masalasi Gogoro. The building, which comprised about 26 rooms, reportedly had eight rooms collapse, trapping eight people beneath the debris.

‎The Kwara State Fire Service led the search-and-rescue operation, with firefighters working under difficult conditions to locate and evacuate victims trapped beneath the rubble.

‎According to the Fire Service, four victims were rescued alive, while four others were recovered and suspected to have died in the incident.

‎The victims were identified as Muhammed Bolakale, 55; Fasilat, 53; Mistura, 28; Barakat, 26; Zainab, 23; Hajia, 15; Muqtar, 7 and Fridaos, 10.

‎A professional assessment at the scene indicated that the structure was unsafe and unfit for habitation, with the building apparently unable to withstand the pressure exerted on its structural components.

‎The Federal Fire Service, Kwara State Command, worked alongside the Kwara State Fire Service during the rescue operation, while several other emergency and security agencies also joined the response.

‎Among the agencies involved were the NSCDC Disaster Management Department, Emergency Ambulance Services, Hospital Management Bureau, SEMA, NEMA, KWARTMA, Nigeria Police Force, Life Glide Ambulance, Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Ministry of Environment.

‎Life Glide Ambulance, which recently entered into a collaboration with the Kwara State Fire Service on emergency response operations, also provided support during the rescue effort.

‎Two excavators were deployed to assist in the careful removal of debris and create access to areas where victims were believed to be trapped.

‎The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFO Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their courage, resilience and professionalism throughout the challenging operation.

‎He also appreciated the Federal Fire Service and other sister agencies for their prompt response and cooperation, noting that the coordinated efforts strengthened the rescue operation.

‎The incident attracted the presence of several senior government officials, including the Chief Fire Officer, the Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Kwara, the Commissioner of Police, the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Works and Health, and the Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, among others.

The Fire Service urged residents to promptly report visible signs of structural weakness, cracks and other conditions that could indicate that a building is unsafe.

‎It also advised property owners to ensure that their buildings are regularly assessed and maintained by qualified professionals to prevent avoidable disasters.

‎The agency reaffirmed its commitment to saving lives and protecting property, stressing that the operation demonstrated the courage and readiness of its personnel to respond to emergencies even under the most difficult circumstances.