The devastating fire that ripped through the six-storey Afriland Towers on Broad Street in Lagos Island on Tuesday, has claimed the lives of at least four Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) staff members, as confirmed by multiple agencies and business leaders.

The blaze, which started in the basement inverter room around 1:38 p.m., quickly filled the building with thick smoke, trapping occupants on upper floors. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) deployed crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations, extinguishing the fire after several hours.

Nine people were rescued from the third and fifth floors, with five successfully resuscitated; others escaped unharmed, though four remained in critical condition as of Wednesday. Eyewitness videos captured desperate scenes of workers jumping from windows to flee the inferno.

FIRS, occupying the sixth and seventh floors with its Medium Tax Audit Office and Onikan Emerging Tax Office, confirmed the deaths of four dedicated staff members in a statement on Wednesday. The agency described the loss as throwing its entire community into deep sorrow, noting that security officials alerted emergency services promptly, but the rapid smoke spread hindered evacuations. FIRS pledged ongoing support for the victims' families and announced a nationwide review of safety protocols in all its offices to prevent future tragedies.

United Bank for Africa (UBA), which operates a branch in the building, issued an initial statement clarifying the fire's location and debunking rumors it affected their Marina headquarters. However, UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu later expressed regret over the hasty release, which he said failed to convey the profound grief within the organization.

In a series of posts on X and an internal memo, Elumelu revealed that colleagues from UBA and its parent Heirs Holdings perished in the blaze, describing the victims as "irreplaceable." He cut short his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to return to Lagos, directing a minute of silence across group companies and planning a memorial service. Elumelu thanked first responders and the public for their compassion during the crisis.

Afriland Properties Plc, the building's management, confirmed the incident and launched an immediate investigation into the cause, vowing cooperation with authorities. The company emphasized that fire services were alerted swiftly and contained the blaze effectively.

The incident has prompted calls for improved fire safety in Lagos' commercial hubs, where high-rise buildings house multiple tenants. LSFRS advised against storing inverter batteries near generators and urged regular evacuation drills.