By ThisDayLive
LAGOS – A dark cloud descended on Lagos Island Tuesday as a raging inferno tore through the iconic Afriland Towers on Broad Street, leaving four senior officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) dead, several others injured, and unanswered questions hanging over one of Nigeria’s busiest commercial hubs.
The victims – pillars of Nigeria’s tax administration – were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George (58, Assistant Director, 32 years of service), Mr. David Sunday-Jatto (51, Assistant Director, 15 years of service), Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe (54, Senior Manager, 13 years of service), and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye (48, Manager, 9 years of service). They were trapped on the sixth and seventh floors as the flames engulfed the building.
Though eyewitnesses claim up to nine lives may have been lost, only the four FIRS staff have been officially confirmed dead. The cause of the blaze, reportedly igniting from the inverter room in the basement, remains under investigation.
In a solemn statement, Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, described the tragedy as “an irreparable blow.”
> “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. The management and entire staff are in deep shock and sorrow. We will provide all necessary support to the bereaved families at this trying time.”
The revenue agency pledged to collaborate with emergency services to unravel the cause of the fire and announced that safety protocols across its nationwide offices would undergo urgent review.
Tony Elumelu Cuts Short UNGA Trip, Speaks on Devastating Loss
The Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, cut short his official trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to return to Lagos immediately upon receiving the heartbreaking news.
In a statement that captured the gravity of the tragedy, Elumelu said:
> “I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues. No words can capture the magnitude of this loss – not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them.”
He announced that a minute of silence would be observed across all Heirs Holdings and Afriland Group companies at 12 noon Wednesday in honour of the deceased, while promising “full support” for the grieving families.
Elumelu further saluted emergency responders, first-aid workers, and members of the public who displayed “courage and compassion” during the rescue effort, even as he promised a memorial service to celebrate the lives of the departed.
Meanwhile, Afriland Properties Plc and relevant emergency agencies have remained tight-lipped on the full scale of the casualties and the structural safety of the skyscraper. This silence has fueled public outrage, with residents and stakeholders demanding transparency and accountability.
As Broad Street struggles to recover from the haunting images of Tuesday’s fire, Nigeria mourns not just the loss of four brilliant public servants, but also the fragility of workplace safety in a nation where fire tragedies are becoming disturbingly common.
For the families of George, Jatto, Onyemelukwe, and Ifaranmaye, the tragedy is a personal earthquake—a reminder that behind every headline are names, lives, and legacies abruptly cut short.
PIONEER NEWS 