Four FIRS Staff Die in Afriland Towers Fire, Days Before Retirement of One Victim

The victims, including a senior officer due for retirement in three days, died after inhaling thick smoke when a fire engulfed the Lagos high-rise.

A major fire outbreak on Tuesday at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, has claimed the lives of four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The multi-storey building also houses offices of United Capital Plc (UCAP), a branch of United Bank of Africa (UBA), and several other financial institutions.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started in the inverter room of the building before spreading rapidly to other floors. Videos shared on social media showed terrified occupants of the high-rise struggling to escape, with some seen exiting through the windows to save their lives.

The following day, the FIRS confirmed the tragic loss of four of its staff. A statement by Dare Adekanmbi, media aide to the FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, explained that the victims were on the sixth and seventh floors of the building when the incident occurred. They reportedly died after inhaling thick smoke that engulfed the building.

The deceased staff members have been identified as:

George Faith Ekelikhostse, 58, Assistant Director. She had served the FIRS for 32 years and was due for voluntary retirement in just three days.

Sunday-Jatto David, 51, Assistant Director, who had put in 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 and the families of the deceased into deep mourning, as tributes continue to pour in for the dedicated civil servants who lost their lives in the line of duty.

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