Four persons are feared dead while four others sustained injuries following the collapse of a two-storey building in the Popo-Giwa area of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State.
The collapsed structure, which comprises approximately 26 rooms, is located adjacent to Masalasi Gogoro in the Popo-Giwa, Abemi area of Ilorin.
Eight rooms caved in at about 5:08 a.m., trapping eight occupants beneath the rubble.
According to a statement by the Head of the Media Unit and Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, emergency personnel conducted search-and-rescue operations under extremely challenging conditions to locate and evacuate the trapped victims.
Adekunle explained that while four victims were rescued alive through joint operations with the Federal Fire Service, four others were recovered dead.
A preliminary on-scene assessment revealed that the structure was unsafe and unfit for human habitation, as it appeared unable to withstand the pressure exerted on its structural components.
Other responding agencies that supported the operation included the NSCDC Disaster Management Department, Emergency Ambulance Services, Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, SEMA, NEMA, KWARTMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Life Glide Ambulance, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the Ministry of Environment.
Two excavators were deployed to clear the debris and access void spaces where victims were trapped.
Addressing residents at the scene, the State Chief Fire Officer, CFO Alabi Muhammed, commended the responders for their resilience and professionalism during the operation.
He also thanked the Federal Fire Service and all collaborating agencies for their swift intervention.
Muhammed urged members of the public to promptly report visible structural defects, cracks, and other signs of distress, while advising property owners to ensure buildings are regularly assessed and maintained by qualified professionals to prevent future tragedies.