A severe fire broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, trapping occupants in the six-storey high-rise structure.
The building, which houses a branch of United Bank for Africa and several other companies in the Marina area, was engulfed by thick smoke, sparking panic among workers and passersby.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call at 13:38 hours, with crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations promptly responding to the scene.
Firefighting teams discovered the blaze started in the inverter room located in the basement before smoke spread across multiple floors of Afriland Towers.
Eyewitness videos show people attempting to jump from upper storeys while others are rescued using ladders by residents and passersby.
Occupants are being evacuated, and firefighting operations are underway to quell panic and ensure safety, as confirmation of casualties remains unknown.
The incident was confirmed in a statement by Deputy Controller General Ogabi Olajide of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stating that evacuation is ongoing and that the panic was partly doused by the first responders.
As of now, no casualties have been officially confirmed.
