Seven persons have been hospitalised following the collapse of a residential building along Ilesha Road, Ile-Ife, Osun State, triggering panic among residents of the neighbourhood.
The affected families have appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists, political leaders and government authorities for financial and material assistance to help them recover from the losses occasioned by the incident.
The building reportedly collapsed at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2026, two houses away from Hard Rock Guest House in Ife City.
According to accounts gathered from residents, an unusual noise, described as resembling the sound of a rapidly deflating object, was heard shortly before the building suddenly caved in.
The incident occurred while some occupants were reportedly asleep, while others were preparing to retire for the night.
A resident, who recounted the incident, said the collapse happened unexpectedly, leaving people in the neighbourhood confused and frightened.
“We heard an unusual sound shortly before the building collapsed. It happened suddenly, and everybody around the neighbourhood became confused and frightened,” the resident said.
Following the collapse, neighbours and other residents reportedly rushed to the scene to assist occupants who were trapped or injured.
Seven victims sustained injuries and were subsequently evacuated to different medical facilities for treatment.
Five of the victims are reportedly receiving medical attention at Bello Hospital, while the remaining two are being treated at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife.
Although the building suffered extensive structural damage, no death was recorded in the incident. Some other occupants and residents were also said to have sustained minor injuries.
Expressing gratitude that the incident did not result in fatalities, a member of one of the affected families said the victims were receiving medical attention but noted that the families had suffered significant losses.
“We thank God that no life was lost in this unfortunate incident. Although people sustained injuries and we have suffered serious losses, we are grateful that the victims are receiving medical attention,” the family member said.
The affected families appealed to individuals, organisations, philanthropists, political leaders and stakeholders across Ife land to support them financially and materially as they struggle to recover from the disaster.
They said assistance was urgently needed to address their losses and rebuild their lives.
The families also expressed concern over what they described as the absence of visits by political leaders in Ife land and representatives of the Osun State Government to the injured victims as of the time of filing this report.
They urged government officials and political stakeholders to visit the victims, assess their conditions and provide the necessary support.
Similarly, residents raised concerns over the reported absence of official emergency response personnel and relevant government agencies at the scene following the collapse.
A community member said residents had largely taken responsibility for responding to the incident and assisting those affected.
“Residents have been left to respond to the situation and assist those affected. We are calling on the relevant authorities to come here, assess the damage and provide the necessary intervention,” the community member said.
Meanwhile, the actual cause of the building collapse has yet to be established.
The incident has renewed calls for comprehensive structural assessments, stricter enforcement of building regulations and regular safety inspections of residential properties to prevent similar occurrences.
The Osun State Government, emergency management agencies and relevant building-control authorities have been urged to visit the affected location, assess the damaged structure and take urgent measures to prevent further danger to occupants and neighbouring buildings.
