Lagos, Nigeria – Na serious gbege don happen for Afriland Towers as fire wey start on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, don carry 10 lives go meet their maker. E be like say this blaze no get chill as United Capital Plc confirm say six of their staff members don join the ancestors, plus four from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) wey say their workers no fit escape the heat.
United Capital run come out with statement wey wet dem eye full with tears, say, “E dey pain us well well, as we go miss our dear colleagues dem.” Dem add say dem go hold memorial service to honor dem sweethearts. Na wah! (This na the time wey solidarity go dey show face!)
The fire wey sabi hot, start around 1:30 PM for the basement inverter room. E quickly begin spread like wildfire as smoke don scatter for different floors. Some workers dey try escape from window wey dem don break for air, while others dey hold ledges like say dem wan fly. Some even jump on top foamy material wey dem lay down to ease their fall. (Who wan be superhero when fire dey throway like this?)
Emergency responders from Federal Fire Service and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service rush come rescue nine people dey try to keep the situation under control. The rescue don bring back five people to life, but four still dey under unconscious spell. Na so some others fit escape by their own power, as e no easy for dem at all.
Afriland Properties, wey get this tower, say dem dey check the matter sharp sharp but dem preliminary investigation don link the fire go the basement inverter room. Chukwunonso Okafor, wey be Head of Marketing for Afriland, talk say, “As the fire dey catch people off guard, emergency services show their power quickly to help.”
By Tuesday evening, the fire don cool down small, but dem still dey carry out some safety checks on the building. Though dem never drop the official casualty figure, na from company statements and eye-witnesses matter, e clear say the number fit still rise. Afriland Towers dey sit down for the center of Lagos business district, so you fit imagine as many corporate offices dey house inside, and the entire place don turn caution zone for now.
This gan gan tragedy don bring plenty grief across the city and beyond. Tony Elumelu, wey be chairman of Afriland Properties, don talk am loud say this na “devastating loss,” and e expressed deep sorrow for the lives wey don go. Even him travel cut short for United Nations General Assembly for New York to pay respect for the victims. Na so e be o! (When if na family members, we go do the same?)
FIRS don also confirm the four employees wey no survive the inferno, and dem name dem, as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye. Dem dey commend their hard work and professionalism, promising say dem go support the families and coworkers while dey also dey review safety measures for their offices nationwide. As we dey mourn, e dey clear say no other thing pass human life.
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