2 children rescued as two-storey building collapses in Kwara

Friday, April 10, 2026 - Two children were rescued after a two-storey residential building collapsed in Ilorin, Kwara State. 

The incident occurred on Thursday morning, April 9, 2026 in the Isale area of Ilorin.  

Spokesperson of the Kwara Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, who disclosed this in a statement said the agency confirmed that the children were initially trapped in the debris but were rescued before firefighters arrived at the scene. 

The agency also recommended to the Disaster Management Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to seal off the collapsed structure and issue a 7-day ultimatum to occupants of an adjacent building found to be structurally unsafe. 

"On Thursday, 9th April 2026, at about 09:10hrs, the Kwara State Fire Service received an emergency call reporting a building collapse at Ajegunle Street, off Sabo-Line Isale Area, Ilorin, Kwara State,” the statement read.

"The incident involved a two-storey building comprising six (6) flats. It was reported that two children, Ahmad (8 years) and Hussainat (10 years) were trapped but were rescued and taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of the Fire Service.

"Upon arrival, firefighters immediately commenced salvage operations, recovering essential belongings including clothes, electronics, food items, and important documents from accessible areas of the building.

"Following an on-site assessment, the Kwara State Fire Service recommended to the Disaster Management Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to seal off the collapsed structure and issue a 7-day ultimatum to occupants of an adjacent building found to be structurally unsafe and unfit for habitation. 

"The NSCDC Disaster Management team acted promptly and enforced the recommendation.

"It was further gathered that the caretaker of the collapsed building had previously been notified about the deteriorating condition of the structure prior to the incident.

"The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, was personally present at the scene to oversee ongoing operations and ensure effective coordination with relevant agencies.

"The Director advised property owners and residents to carry out regular structural integrity assessments of buildings, heed early warning signs such as cracks and weaknesses, and take immediate action when defects are identified.

"He emphasized that timely intervention can prevent avoidable disasters and save lives.

“The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urges the public to remain vigilant and proactive in matters of safety.”