Four FIRS Officials Confirmed Dead as Fire Guts Afriland Towers in Lagos

By Joseph Iyaji on 18/09/25 • ( Leave a comment )

Four FIRS Officials Confirmed Dead as Fire Guts Afriland Towers in Lagos

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

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Tragedy struck on Tuesday when a devastating fire engulfed Afriland Towers, a multi-storey commercial complex on Broad Street, Lagos Island, housing the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), United Capital Plc (UCAP), a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA), and other financial institutions.

Memorial tribute for four deceased FIRS officials, including photographs and details of their service and contributions.

How the Fire Started

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The inferno reportedly began in the inverter room before spreading rapidly to other parts of the high-rise building. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as videos circulated online showing desperate occupants escaping through windows in frantic efforts to survive.

FIRS Confirms Casualties

On Wednesday, the FIRS officially confirmed the loss of four of its staff members who were on duty at the agency’s sixth and seventh-floor offices when thick smoke overwhelmed the building.

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In a statement signed by Dare Adekanmbi, media aide to FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, the deceased were named as:

George Faith Ekelikhostse (58) – Assistant Director with 32 years of service, tragically dying just three days before her scheduled voluntary retirement.
Sunday-Jatto David (51) – Assistant Director with 15 years in service.
Ifaranmaye Peter (48) – Manager with nine years of service.
Onyemelukwe Nkem (54) – Senior Manager with 13 years of service.

Details obtained by TheCable indicated that the victims succumbed after inhaling thick smoke while trapped inside the building.

Mourning Across FIRS Community

The tragedy has thrown the entire FIRS workforce into mourning. Colleagues have described the deceased as dedicated professionals whose contributions to tax administration in Nigeria will be deeply missed.

Meanwhile, calls are mounting for a full investigation into the incident, with safety experts and concerned Nigerians demanding stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in commercial buildings across Lagos State.

Akahi News gathered that while rescue operations prevented further casualties, questions remain about the adequacy of emergency exits and safety infrastructure in the iconic building.