Two children were rescued on Thursday after a two-storey residential building collapsed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, triggering emergency response and renewed concerns over structural safety.
The incident occurred around 9:10 a.m. on Ajegunle Street, off Sabo-Line in the Isale area, involving a six-flat residential building.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, the two children Ahmad (8) and Hussainat (10) were initially trapped in the rubble but were rescued before firefighters arrived at the scene.
“They were taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention prior to the arrival of the Fire Service,” Adekunle said.
Firefighters who responded to the incident immediately commenced salvage operations, recovering valuables such as clothing, electronics, food items, and important documents from accessible parts of the collapsed structure.
Following an on-site assessment, the Fire Service raised concerns about the safety of nearby buildings and recommended urgent preventive measures.
The agency advised the Disaster Management Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to seal off the collapsed building and issue a seven-day evacuation notice to occupants of a neighbouring structure found to be unsafe for habitation.
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The NSCDC Disaster Management Unit reportedly acted promptly, sealing the affected building and enforcing the evacuation order on the adjacent structure.
Authorities also revealed that prior warnings had been issued about the deteriorating condition of the building before the incident occurred.
“It was gathered that the caretaker had earlier been notified about the structural defects of the building,” the statement added.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to supervise rescue and recovery efforts alongside other emergency responders.
He urged property owners and residents to conduct regular structural integrity checks, pay attention to warning signs such as cracks and weaknesses, and take immediate action when defects are detected.
Muhammed stressed that timely intervention could prevent avoidable disasters and save lives, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
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