Lagos, Nigeria — A devastating fire at Afriland Towers on Broad Street has claimed the lives of ten people, with staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc (UCP) among the victims. The tragic incident, which unfolded on Tuesday, has cast a somber shadow over Lagos’s bustling financial district.
Separate statements from FIRS and UCP confirmed the horrifying toll. FIRS announced the tragic loss of four staff members, while United Capital Plc confirmed that six of its employees died in the blaze. The FIRS victims were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, who were working on the sixth and seventh floors when the fire erupted.
Chaos and Desperate Bids for Escape
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of utter chaos as thick smoke, originating from the building’s basement, quickly spread through the upper floors. Videos and photos from the scene captured the terrifying moments, with people desperately jumping from windows to escape the smoke-filled building. Onlookers and rescuers rushed to the scene with ladders and mattresses to assist those trapped.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service later confirmed that the fire was caused by an inverter room in the basement of the building. The fire service was quickly alerted, but the blaze had already engulfed several floors.
Both companies have expressed their grief and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. FIRS announced a review of safety measures across all its offices nationwide, while United Capital Plc described the victims as an “integral part” of its “company and family,” stating that their “painful loss leaves an immeasurable void.”
