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 structure.
Confirming the development in a statement, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said two children were initially trapped in the rubble but were rescued before firefighters arrived.
The victims, identified as Ahmad, 8, and Hussainat, 10, were said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
He added that firefighters, upon arrival, commenced salvage operations, recovering items such as clothing, electronics, foodstuffs and important documents from parts of the building that were still accessible.
Following an assessment of the scene, the agency raised concerns over the integrity of nearby structures and recommended urgent safety measures to prevent further incidents.
According to the statement, the Fire Service advised the Disaster Management Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to seal off the collapsed building and issue a seven-day evacuation notice to occupants of a neighbouring structure found to be unsafe.
The NSCDC was said to have acted promptly by sealing the affected building and enforcing the evacuation directive on the adjacent property.
Authorities also revealed that prior warnings had been issued regarding the deteriorating condition of the structure before the collapse.
The Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to oversee rescue and coordination efforts.
He urged residents and property owners to conduct regular structural checks on buildings and to take early warning signs, such as cracks and visible weaknesses, seriously.
He emphasised that timely intervention could prevent avoidable disasters and save lives, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
