Man dies as rainstorm destroys sports facilities in Kwara
Tragedy struck in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday evening as a 30-minute rainstorm wreaked havoc.
The incident claimed the life of a renowned Taekwondo coach, Musa Ismail, and destroyed a newly renovated sports facility and other residential buildings.
The incident occurred between 5.30pm and 6pm at the Badminton Court located within the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority complex in Ilorin.
Taekwondo coach, Musa Ismail
Ismail, a Taekwondo coach, lost his life during the rainstorm
Eyewitnesses said a section of the building collapsed during the storm, fatally injuring Musa, who was playing at the facility with friends.
According to a witness, the portion of the facility that caved in was part of a recent renovation project undertaken by the previous administration.
“A section of the newly renovated Badminton court executed by the former administration collapsed and fell on the deceased coach,” the source who craved anonymity revealed.
When our correspondent visited the scene on Tuesday, the facility had been sealed off, with the collapsed portion visible from outside.
The FG signage was destroyed by the rainstorm
Efforts to get an official response from LNRBDA were unsuccessful, as both the Public Relations Officer and the Managing Director were unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report.
Victims of the rainstorm counting losses as the rooftop fell on a car | Credit: Tunde Oyekola
Staff at the LNRBDA headquarters also refused to speak on the record. One staff member, however, confirmed the incident but clarified that the deceased was not an employee of the Authority.
“The incident is very tragic, it happened unfortunately during the rain on Monday, but no one can speak on it except the Managing Director, who is not around now.
“The MD will be in the office tomorrow, and if you come, you will be able to speak with him,” the staff member said.
Facebook post mourning Ismail, a Taekwondo coach, who lost his life during the rainstorm | Credit: Screeshot, Tunde Oyekola
He added “The facility has been closed down.”
Ismail, described as an “upcoming and amiable Badminton coach” by some of his trainees, had recently emerged champion at the 2025 MKA Taekwondo Championship held in Ede, Osun State.
He was said to have married just over a year ago and is survived by a child.
A walk around the vicinity showed that the rainstorm also affected several nearby buildings, blowing off rooftops and damaging structures.
