Six employees of United Capital Plc have been confirmed dead, in addition to the initial four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), in the widely reported fire incident at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The deaths have been confirmed in separate statements by the FIRS and United Capital Plc.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, identified the victims as Mrs Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager).
The deceased were working on the sixth and seventh floors of the building, which houses two FIRS offices, when the tragedy occurred.
“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,” the statement read.
The agency said its Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office are based on the affected floors.
It added that its Security and Safety officials quickly contacted the fire service when alerted, but thick smoke had already engulfed the building.
FIRS said its management and staff are in deep shock and have reached out to the families of the deceased, promising to provide all necessary support.
“We are working in collaboration with all relevant agencies in Lagos to get to the root cause of the unfortunate incident. While this is going on, we will be reviewing safety measures across FIRS offices in both rented and owned buildings nationwide,” the statement said.
The United Capiytal Plc also mourned the loss of its staff members, describing the fire victims as “an integral part” of “our company and family”.
The statement reads:
“It is with profound grief that the Management and Staff of United Capital Plc announce the passing of six of our dear colleagues, following the tragic fire at Afriland Towers on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
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“Our departed colleagues were an integral part of our company and family. Their painful loss leaves an immeasurable void. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones, and we continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers, as well as provide all the support we can to them during this most difficult time.
“We are making preparations for an appropriate memorial service to honour their lives and mark their passing with dignity and solemnity. We thank the emergency services and all those who responded for their valiant assistance at the time of the incident.
“In this moment of untold grief, we stand together in solidarity, drawing strength from one another as we navigate this period. May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” the company said.
Emergency responders had earlier confirmed rescuing several occupants after the fire, which was believed to have been triggered by an inverter explosion from the inverter room located in Afriland Tower’s basement. The smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure, trapping occupants in the process.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, had, in separate letters, expressed their condolences to family members, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, United Bank for Africa, UBA, over the fire tragedies.