A devastating building collapse in Ilorin has claimed the lives of four members of the same family, prompting condolences from Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu and Senator Saliu Mustapha.

The tragedy occurred early Tuesday at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, in the Popo Giwa/Abemi area of Ilorin West Local Government Area. The three-storey building collapsed around 5am, trapping eight members of the family beneath the rubble.

Emergency responders eventually rescued four members of the family alive, while four others were recovered dead from the debris after hours of rescue operations.

Reacting to the incident, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed grief over the loss of lives and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enforcing building standards and protecting residents from avoidable disasters.

The governor appealed to residents to cooperate with the government and relevant authorities in ensuring that safety regulations are respected.

The incident has also drawn condemnation from Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District.

Mustapha described the collapse as a tragedy and extended his condolences to the bereaved family and the wider community. He also commended emergency responders for their efforts during the rescue operation.

The senator called for stricter compliance with building regulations by property owners and developers, warning that failure to observe approved construction standards could expose occupants and members of the public to serious danger.

Mustapha further urged residents to report visible signs of structural weakness in buildings before they develop into life-threatening emergencies.

He prayed for the speedy recovery of the survivors and expressed solidarity with the families affected by the tragedy.

Also mourning the victims, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and APC governorship candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, described the incident as unfortunate.

Danladi-Salihu commiserated with the families of those who died and prayed for the quick recovery of the survivors who sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He also commended the state government and the combined team of emergency responders for their swift intervention at the scene.

Earlier reports from the rescue operation revealed that a child identified as Firdaus, described as the second-to-last child of the family, was among those rescued alive from the rubble. An eyewitness also said the father of the family is a serving soldier, while the mother works as a casual staff member at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in Ilorin.

The Kwara State Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that eight people were initially trapped following the collapse, with four eventually rescued alive and four confirmed dead.

The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger enforcement of building regulations, proper structural assessment and greater compliance with town-planning requirements to prevent similar tragedies in the state.

Authorities are expected to further assess the affected structure and surrounding buildings while efforts continue to ensure that residents are protected from additional risks.