By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
THE FIRE that swept through Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday has been confirmed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc to have claimed at least ten staff members, according to separate statements issued by the two organisations.
The FIRS, through its statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, confirmed the death of four staff members.
The victims were identified as Mrs Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director, 58, who had served for 32 years; Mr David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director, 51, who had worked for 15 years; Mrs Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager, 54, who had been with the agency for 13 years; and Mr Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager, 48, who had served for nine years.
They were on the sixth and seventh floors, which housed the agency’s Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office, when the fire broke out.
“It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the tragic loss of four of its staff members during the fire incident at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday,” the statement read.
The agency noted that its Security and Safety officials promptly contacted the fire service but said thick smoke had already overtaken the building before help could arrive.
Management assured that the families of the deceased would receive all necessary support and disclosed that the service would review safety measures across all its offices nationwide.
United Capital Plc also confirmed the deaths of six of its employees in the fire, describing them as “an integral part of our company and family.”
In its statement, the financial services firm said the painful loss “leaves an immeasurable void,” adding that arrangements were being made for a memorial service in honour of the deceased.
Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, expressed his grief, stating that he cut short his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York after receiving news of the incident.
He described the tragedy as devastating and announced that a minute of silence would be observed across his Group companies at noon on Wednesday in memory of the victims.
“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues.
“No words can capture the magnitude of this loss, not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them,” Mr Elumelu stated.
He further assured that the company would provide full support to the families of the deceased and called on colleagues to stand in solidarity with those who were receiving care.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the blaze started in the inverter room in the basement before spreading to upper floors of the building, which also houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and other institutions.
Videos shared from the scene captured frantic attempts by occupants to escape through windows as smoke engulfed the tower, with members of the public rushing with ladders and foamy materials to assist.
UBA has acknowledged the loss of some staff members but has not provided figures. Emergency agencies have yet to release an official account of the full casualty toll, although the combined confirmations by FIRS and United Capital place the death count at ten.
Mr Elumelu also expressed gratitude to emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public who intervened during the fire. He announced that colleagues would be convened in the coming days for a memorial to honour the deceased.
As of Thursday, investigations into the root cause of the blaze were ongoing, with authorities and corporate stakeholders working to establish the circumstances that led to the tragic event at Afriland Towers.
