Just In: FIRS Announces Number of Staff Tragically Killed in Fire Outbreak at Afriland Towers
- FIRS confirmed four staff died in Tuesday’s Afriland Towers fire, which started in the basement inverter room and spread to upper floors
- Victims included senior officers working on the sixth and seventh floors: Ekelikhostse George, David Sunday-Jatto, Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Peter Ifaranmaye
- FIRS expressed deep grief, pledged support for families, and said safety protocols would be reviewed while investigations into the fire’s cause continue
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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that four of its staff members lost their lives in Tuesday’s fire outbreak at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos.
The blaze was reported to have started in the inverter room in the basement before spreading rapidly through the high-rise building.
Source: Twitter
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the incident was reported at about 1.38 pm. Crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations were deployed to the scene.
In a statement signed by Ogabi Olajide, deputy controller general of the agency, the fire was traced to an inverter room in the building’s basement. Thick smoke rapidly reached multiple floors and engulfed the structure.
Taiwo Oyekan, the chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, said he joined the Rescue team. He wrote on his known social media page, with an accompanying picture:
"I led the Lagos Island LG HOD of Medical services and Sanitation workers to Afriland Towers fire outbreak scene on Broad Street to join the Rescue team."
Victims were on sixth and seventh floors
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dare Adekanmbi, media aide to Zacch Adedeji, the FIRS chairman, said the deceased officers were carrying out their duties on the sixth and seventh floors when the incident occurred, The Cable reported.
They were identified as Ekelikhostse George, assistant director; David Sunday-Jatto, assistant director; Nkem Onyemelukwe, senior manager; and Peter Ifaranmaye, manager.
Service expresses shock and grief
Adekanmbi noted that the management and entire staff of the agency were devastated by the loss.
He added that FIRS has already reached out to the families of the deceased to ensure they receive both moral and material support.
Fire service alerted swiftly
Source: Twitter
According to the statement, FIRS security personnel quickly alerted emergency responders, including the fire service, but significant damage had already been done by the time help arrived.
Safety protocols to be reviewed
Adekanmbi further disclosed that the agency is collaborating with relevant authorities to determine the cause of the fire.
He added that FIRS would also review its safety protocols across all its offices nationwide to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Lagos fire outbreak: UBA releases clarification reports
Previously, Legit.ng reported that United Bank for Africa (UBA) had denied reports that its Lagos Island branch was gutted by fire on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
In a statement signed by Ramon Nasir, Group Head of Media and External Relations, the bank said the incident occurred at Afriland Building on Broad Street, Lagos. The bank stated that the affected property was not its head office.
The fire, which erupted on Tuesday afternoon, left several workers trapped inside the multi-storey Afriland Building. A BBC report said panicked employees attempted to escape through windows, with videos circulating online showing people leaping from upper floors while bystanders screamed in shock.
Source: Legit.ng
