Four staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have been confirmed dead following Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos.
The multiple-storey building, which also houses United Capital Plc (UCAP), a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA), and other financial institutions, was gutted by fire said to have started in the inverter room before spreading upward.
Videos from the scene shared on social media showed occupants of the high-rise struggling to escape through windows as thick smoke engulfed the structure.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dare Adekanmbi, media aide to FIRS chairman Zacch Adedeji, said the deceased officials were working on the sixth and seventh floors when the incident occurred. They reportedly died after inhaling dense smoke.
The victims were identified as:
George Faith Ekelikhostse (58) – Assistant Director, who was due to retire voluntarily in three days after 32 years of service.
Sunday-Jatto David (51) – Assistant Director with 15 years of service.
Ifaranmaye Peter (48) – Manager with nine years of service.
Onyemelukwe Nkem (54) – Senior Manager with 13 years of service.
The incident has thrown the FIRS into mourning, with colleagues describing the loss of four experienced staff as a devastating tragedy for the organisation.
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