At least six additional deaths have been confirmed in the devastating fire that ravaged Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial building on Broad Street in Lagos Island.
The tragedy, which unfolded on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, has plunged several organizations into mourning, with financial firm United Capital disclosing the loss of six staff members in the blaze.
The fire broke out around 1:38 p.m., prompting a swift response from fire crews stationed at Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu, according to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
Initial reports indicated nine people were rescued, with five resuscitated on-site, and several others escaping unhurt.
However, four individuals were hospitalized in critical condition, battling for their lives in the immediate aftermath.United Capital confirmed the deaths of its employees in an exclusive statement to Punch Newspapers on Thursday, September 18, 2025, raising the confirmed toll from four to 10.
The firm expressed profound grief, noting the irreplaceable loss to its team. Efforts to contact the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, National Emergency Management Agency, and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency for further verification were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The incident has also affected other tenants in the building. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) mourned four of its staff members, who were working on the sixth and seventh floors housing the Medium Tax Audit Office and Onikan Emerging Tax Office.
FIRS management described the loss as a somber blow to the agency, pledging support to the bereaved families.
United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates a branch in the tower, confirmed the fire but emphasized that its head office was unaffected.
Heirs Holdings Chairman Tony Elumelu, whose conglomerate includes UBA, shared an internal message lamenting the "devastating" loss of colleagues, underscoring the tragedy's profound impact.Afriland Properties Plc, the building's owner, issued a statement acknowledging the fire at its branch and expressing condolences.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, though early accounts point to it originating in a section housing multiple businesses, including banking and tax offices.
This fire comes amid a spate of blazes in Lagos Island, with another inferno gutting the nearby Central Plaza shopping complex hours later on the same day, resulting in millions of naira in property damage and several injuries.
Authorities are yet to release a comprehensive casualty update, but the incidents have heightened concerns over fire safety in the densely packed commercial district.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, Lagos State officials are expected to address the public on preventive measures and support for affected families.
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