Five members of the same family, comprising a mother and four of her children, have died following the collapse of part of a residential building in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, in the Masalasi Gogoro area of Ilorin West Local Government Area.

Eight members of the family were reportedly inside the affected section of the building when it collapsed, trapping them beneath the rubble.

Emergency responders initially reported four fatalities and four survivors. Subsequent reports indicated that the death toll had risen to five, leaving three surviving members of the family.

The father, identified as a serving military officer who was on medical leave, was among those rescued alive. He was reportedly preparing to perform ablution when the building collapsed.

Rescue workers said a wooden component of the old structure prevented a heavy pillar from falling directly on him. Responders dug through the debris before pulling him to safety.

A child identified as Firdaus was also rescued from the collapsed structure, while the injured survivors were taken to a hospital for treatment.

The Kwara State Fire Service said it received a distress call at about 5:00 a.m. and immediately deployed personnel to the scene. An excavator was later brought in to assist with removing the rubble and reaching those trapped.

The Public Relations Officer of the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, said the operation required the combined efforts of several emergency and security agencies.

Personnel from the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Federal and State Fire Services, police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Red Cross and health services participated in the rescue operation.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said preliminary findings showed that the collapsed section was attached to the main building.

Occupants of the remaining structure were evacuated as a precaution, pending a comprehensive assessment of its structural condition.

The fire service said the cause of the collapse had not been established and warned against speculation until a proper technical investigation was completed.

Representing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the scene, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olohungbebe, described the incident as tragic and conveyed the state government’s condolences to the bereaved family.

Olohungbebe stressed the importance of complying with building and town-planning regulations, particularly requirements for access roads that enable emergency responders to reach distressed buildings quickly.

Ilorin West Local Government Chairman, AbdulRahman Babatunde Ladan, also urged residents to report visible structural defects and evacuate buildings whenever they notice cracks, unusual movements or other warning signs.

Authorities said a structural inspection would determine whether the remaining part of the building was safe for occupation or required further action.

The tragedy has renewed concerns over the condition of ageing residential buildings and the need for regular structural integrity assessments across Nigeria.

The post Five Family Members Killed as Residential Building Collapses in Ilorin appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A potentially devastating fire disaster was prevented in Ilorin, Kwara State, after firefighters responded swiftly to a petrol tanker crash at a filling station, successfully containing the incident before it escalated into a major explosion. The prompt intervention helped protect lives, nearby businesses, and surrounding properties from extensive damage.

According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the tanker, carrying approximately 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), developed a mechanical fault while in transit before crashing near a filling station along the Oko-Olowo Expressway in Ilorin. Emergency responders arrived promptly after receiving a distress call and immediately commenced firefighting operations.

Firefighters successfully contained the fuel spill and extinguished the fire before it could spread to the filling station or nearby structures. Their timely response prevented what authorities described as a potential large-scale disaster in the busy commercial area. No fatalities were recorded during the incident, although traffic was temporarily disrupted while emergency operations were underway.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service commended the professionalism and rapid response of emergency personnel, noting that adherence to safety procedures played a crucial role in preventing a catastrophic explosion. He also urged motorists transporting petroleum products to ensure their vehicles are mechanically sound before embarking on journeys to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

Safety experts have repeatedly warned that mechanical failures, poor vehicle maintenance, and inadequate compliance with transport safety regulations remain major contributors to tanker-related accidents across Nigeria. They called for stricter enforcement of road safety standards, regular vehicle inspections, and improved emergency preparedness to minimise future incidents.

The incident underscores the importance of efficient emergency response systems and continued investment in fire safety infrastructure to safeguard communities, critical facilities, and commercial centres from fire-related disasters

The post Firefighters Avert Major Disaster After Petrol Tanker Crash at Kwara Filling Station appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

A gas explosion has destroyed a residential building housing three-bedroom flats in Temidere community, Reke, within Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, prompting an emergency response from the Kwara State Fire Service.

In a statement released by the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Hassan Adekunle, firefighters received a distress call at about 4:27 p.m. and immediately mobilised to the scene.

What Happened

According to the fire service, the explosion was triggered by a gas leak, which led to a sudden blast and subsequent fire outbreak that affected the entire residential structure.

“All the three-bedroom flats within the building were impacted by the fire following a sudden gas explosion,” the statement said.

Emergency Response

Firefighters were able to contain the fire swiftly, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring buildings and causing further damage within the community.

Officials confirmed that the prompt response played a critical role in limiting the scale of destruction.

Safety Advisory Issued

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service used the incident to renew warnings on the safe handling of cooking gas, urging residents to prioritise routine checks on gas cylinders and accessories.

He advised residents to:

• Regularly inspect gas hoses, regulators, and cylinders
• Ensure proper ventilation when using gas
• Avoid expired or substandard gas equipment
• Shut off gas supply immediately if leakage is suspected

He stressed that strict adherence to gas safety practices remains essential to preventing explosions and loss of property.

Recurring Safety Concern

Gas-related explosions continue to pose a serious safety concern in several parts of Nigeria, often linked to poor maintenance, improper usage, and faulty gas equipment.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring residents of continued rapid response to emergency situations across the state.

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