Six more deaths confirmed after Lagos Island building inferno
The death toll from the devastating fire that engulfed Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial building located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, has risen to 10, following the confirmation of six additional casualties on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Tuesday, initially claimed four lives—employees of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). On Thursday, United Capital Plc, another tenant of the building, confirmed that six of its staff members also perished in the blaze, bringing the total number of fatalities to ten.
The victims were trapped after the fire reportedly started in the inverter room located in the basement of the building and rapidly spread to multiple floors, filling the structure with thick smoke that made evacuation extremely difficult.
FIRS mourns four top officials lost in the fire
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, in an official statement released on Wednesday through the Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, mourned the loss of four senior staff members. The deceased were:
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Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director
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Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director
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Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager
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Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager
One of the victims, Mr. Jatto, was reportedly in the office on the day of the fire to hand over duties to a successor, following a recent redeployment—making his death particularly heartbreaking.
FIRS confirmed that its offices were located on the sixth and seventh floors of the tower. The agency praised the professionalism and dedication of the deceased and pledged to support their families while collaborating with emergency agencies to uncover the cause of the inferno.
United Capital confirms six additional staff deaths
United Capital Plc issued a solemn statement on Thursday, confirming the death of six of its employees who were working on the third and fourth floors of Afriland Towers. The company expressed profound grief and extended heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased.
“Our departed colleagues were an integral part of our company and family,” the statement read. “We are making preparations for an appropriate memorial service to honour their lives and mark their passing with dignity and solemnity.”
The company also thanked emergency responders for their bravery and assistance during the incident.
Emergency response and ongoing investigation
According to Deputy Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Olajide Ogabi, nine individuals were rescued, and five others were hospitalized with injuries sustained during the fire.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), alongside the Fire Service, continues to investigate the origin of the fire. Initial reports confirm that it began in the basement inverter room, which quickly filled the building with smoke, causing panic and making evacuation difficult for occupants on upper floors.
Eyewitnesses reported that some occupants had to jump through windows in a desperate bid to escape, while others were trapped inside for critical minutes before help arrived.
Leaders react, express condolences
Following the tragic fire, President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa issued separate condolence messages to the affected families, as well as to the management of FIRS, United Capital Plc, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), another tenant of the building.
In his message, Governor Sanwo-Olu assured the public that an extensive investigation would be carried out and that building safety standards in Lagos would be revisited to prevent such disasters in the future.
Public awaits official update from emergency agencies
As of press time, neither the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service nor LASEMA had released a comprehensive official statement detailing the full circumstances of the fire or confirming the total casualties. Efforts by journalists to obtain more information from both agencies were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, families, colleagues, and friends continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Memorial services are being planned by the affected organizations, and support efforts for the grieving families are underway.
