Four FIRS staff confirmed dead in Afriland Towers fire

Tragedy struck on Tuesday when a fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, claimed the lives of four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The high-rise building, which houses the offices of FIRS, United Capital Plc (UCAP), a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA), and other financial institutions, was engulfed in flames said to have started from the inverter room before spreading upward.

Videos shared on social media showed occupants of the skyscraper struggling to escape through windows as thick smoke filled the building.

In a statement on Wednesday, Dare Adekanmbi, media aide to FIRS chairman Zacch Adedeji, confirmed that four employees of the agency lost their lives after inhaling dense smoke during the incident.

The victims were identified as:

George Faith Ekelikhostse (58) – Assistant Director, who died three days to her voluntary retirement 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 loss has thrown the FIRS community into mourning, with colleagues and friends describing the deaths as a devastating blow to the service.