At least four people have been rescued alive after a three-storey building collapsed in Ilorin, Kwara State, with no fewer than eight others feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The building collapsed at about 5:30am on Tuesday in the Popo-Giwa, Masalasi Gogoro area, off Aikobi Road, in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, according to local reports. (Blueprint Newspapers Limited)
The incident occurred in the early hours when many residents were still asleep, triggering panic in the community as fears grew that several occupants could have been inside the building when it gave way.
Residents reportedly rushed to the scene and joined emergency responders in frantic efforts to locate and rescue those trapped under the debris.
Four people were subsequently pulled out alive and taken for necessary medical attention, although their identities and the extent of their injuries had not been disclosed at the time of reporting. (Blueprint Newspapers Limited)
However, emergency officials continued searching the rubble for at least eight other people believed to be trapped inside the collapsed structure.
Sources familiar with the incident said nursing mothers and children were among those feared trapped, further intensifying the urgency of the rescue operation
Personnel from the Kwara State Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency were deployed to the scene alongside local residents.
Rescuers were carefully clearing the debris and attempting to reach areas where victims were believed to be trapped, while efforts were also being made to determine the actual number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse.
The immediate cause of the collapse remains unknown.
Authorities have not yet attributed the incident to any particular factor, with investigations expected to establish whether structural defects, poor workmanship, substandard materials or other construction-related issues contributed to the disaster.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over building safety and the enforcement of construction standards in Nigeria, where building collapses have repeatedly resulted in deaths and injuries.
Rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency workers searched for survivors and worked to account for everyone who may have been inside the building.
