Nigeria: Afriland Towers Fire: Death toll rises to 10 as leaders mourn victims

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The tragic fire that engulfed Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, has claimed ten lives.

Initially, four people lost their lives when the fire broke out on Tuesday. By Thursday, six more deaths were confirmed, bringing the total fatalities to ten. The latest victims were employees of United Capital Plc, who worked on the third and fourth floors of the building.

Earlier, four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service were confirmed dead, including two assistant directors, a senior manager, and a manager. One of them, it was revealed, had only gone to the office that day to officially hand over to his successor when tragedy struck.

Investigations suggest the fire started in the inverter room in the basement before thick smoke spread across the building, trapping occupants. While many people managed to escape, emergency responders rescued others and rushed several to hospital for treatment.

The incident has drawn an outpouring of grief from the presidency, state government, and other leaders, who extended condolences to the bereaved families and the affected organizations.

United Capital Plc expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their six staff members, describing them as integral to the company’s family. The firm said it was preparing a memorial service in their honour and would support the families during this painful time.

The government and emergency agencies have promised a full investigation into the cause of the fire while safety reviews are being considered for offices across the state.