The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that it lost four staff members in the fire that engulfed Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, a multiple storey building that housed its offices, United Capital Plc (UCAP), a branch of United Bank of Africa (UBA), and other financial institutions.
The fire was said to have started in the inverter room in the building’s before spreading upward. Videos from the incident on social media showed occupants of the high-rise building escaping through the windows.
On Wednesday, the FIRS in a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, Media aide to Zacch Adedeji, the FIRS chairperson, announced that four of its staff died in the incident.
The agency said the deceased were working at the agency’s offices on the sixth and seventh floors when the incident occurred.
It was said that the FIRS staff died after inhalation thick smoke that covered the building during the incident.
Below are the names of the deceased FIRS staff.
George Faith Ekelikhostse
The late Faith was an assistant director with the FIRS. She was 58. She died three days to her voluntary retirement after 32 years of service.
Sunday-Jatto David
David, 51, was an assistant director with the FIRS and had served for 15 years.
Ifaranmaye Peter
Peter was a manager with nine years in service. He was 48 years old.
Onyemelukwe Nkem
Nkem was a senior manager with 13 years in service. She was 54 years old.