A fire at Afriland Towers in Lagos claimed the lives of four senior FIRS staff, prompting grief and safety reviews within the agency.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed the death of four senior staff members in Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos.
The victims — Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director; Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director; Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager; and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager — were trapped on the sixth and seventh floors where two FIRS offices were located.
“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,” said Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman.
According to the statement, FIRS security teams promptly alerted the fire service, but “thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building” before responders arrived.
FIRS said it would support the victims’ families and review safety measures nationwide. Authorities have launched investigations to establish the cause of the fire.