The death toll from the three-storey building collapse in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has increased to five, following the recovery and burial of the victims.
The deceased, identified as a mother and her four children, were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites as grieving relatives and sympathisers gathered to console the bereaved family.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at No. 41 Popo Giwa Street, beside Gogoro Mosque, where a section of the residential building caved in, trapping eight members of the same family beneath the rubble.
The father, a serving soldier, and two surviving children were rescued and are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
Speaking on the development, the head of the family, Mr. Lanre Qudus, disclosed that the occupants had abandoned the building and resolved to demolish the remaining section after it was found to have failed a structural integrity assessment.
According to him, the decision was taken to prevent any further loss of lives.
The collapse has also renewed concerns over the safety of ageing buildings in the state.
Chairman of the Kwara State Technical Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Bashir Lawal, called for a comprehensive structural audit of buildings across the state to reduce the risk of similar disasters.
Lawal stressed that regular inspections and strict compliance with building standards are necessary to safeguard lives and property.
The building collapsed at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday in the Popo Giwa area of Ilorin, leaving eight members of one family trapped beneath the debris.
An eyewitness, Abdulganiy Musa, had earlier said the father of the affected family serves in the Nigerian Army, while the deceased mother worked as a casual employee at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the cause of the collapse as calls grow for stricter enforcement of building regulations across Kwara State.