Dark Tuesday as FIRS Loses 4 Senior Officers in Office Inferno
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been plunged into mourning following the demise of four senior staff members in the conflagration that consumed Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The victims, stationed at the agency’s offices on the sixth and seventh floors of the skyscraper, found themselves ensnared as the inferno rapidly swept through the edifice.
In a communiqué by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, the names of the deceased officials were disclosed as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director; Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director; Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager; and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager.
“It is with profound sorrow that the Federal Inland Revenue Service announces the tragic loss of four of its devoted staff in the fire incident at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos,” the statement partially conveyed.
“The Service occupies the sixth and seventh floors of the Towers, housing the Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office.
Despite swift intervention by our security and safety personnel, who promptly contacted the fire service, the conflagration spread with alarming rapidity, generating dense smoke that impeded rescue operations.”
The agency articulated deep grief over the calamity, lauding the deceased as exemplary professionals whose dedication to duty was beyond reproach.
It also extended heartfelt condolences to their families and pledged unwavering support during this period of bereavement.
“We are in close contact with the families of our departed colleagues and will support them in every conceivable manner. Concurrently, we are collaborating with relevant authorities to ascertain the precise cause of this tragic episode. As a precautionary measure, FIRS will undertake a comprehensive review of safety protocols across all its offices, whether leased or owned, nationwide,” the statement further elucidated.
Emergency personnel at the scene confirmed that investigations have commenced to ascertain the cause of the blaze, which eyewitnesses described as rapidly spreading and capable of entrapping occupants across multiple levels.
