Ten staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc have died in the fire that engulfed Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.
FIRS confirmed the loss of four staff members — Mrs Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager) — who were working on the sixth and seventh floors of the building when the tragedy struck.
The agency said its Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office are based on the affected floors. It noted that despite quickly alerting the fire service, thick smoke had already engulfed the building.
United Capital Plc also confirmed losing six staff members, describing them as “an integral part of our company and family” and noting that their deaths “leave an immeasurable void.”
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as smoke from the basement forced mass evacuation. Videos captured frantic occupants jumping from upper floors, while onlookers rushed with ladders and foamy materials to aid the escape. Trapped workers smashed windows to breathe as residents below stretched out their hands to catch them.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the fire originated from the inverter room in the basement, quickly spreading through several floors and filling the structure with smoke.
