Two children were rescued on Thursday after a two-storey residential building collapsed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, prompting emergency response and fresh warnings over structural safety.

PUNCH Online gathered that the incident, which occurred at about 9:10 a.m. on Ajegunle Street, off Sabo-Line in the Isale area, involved a six-flat building.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, the agency confirmed that two children were initially trapped in the debris but were rescued before firefighters arrived at the scene.

“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,” Hassan said.

“Firefighters immediately commenced salvage operations, recovering essential belongings including clothes, electronics, food items, and important documents from accessible areas of the building,” he added.

Following an on-site assessment, the Fire Service raised concerns about the safety of nearby structures and recommended urgent preventive measures to avert further disasters.

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

The Disaster Management unit of the NSCDC was said to have acted swiftly on the recommendation, sealing off the affected building and enforcing the evacuation notice on the neighbouring structure.

Authorities also disclosed that prior warnings had been issued about the condition of the building before the collapse occurred.

“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,” Hassan said.

The Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to supervise operations and coordinate with other emergency responders.

Addressing property owners and residents, Alabi urged them 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 stressed that prompt attention to structural defects could prevent avoidable tragedies and save lives, while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state. (The PUNCH)