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Summary
Kehinde Adeoye, a 36-year-old compliance officer and mother of two, tragically died in the Afriland Towers fire on September 16, 2025. She was one of six United Capital staff members lost in the blaze, which claimed a total of ten lives.
Kehinde Adeoye, a 36-year-old compliance officer with United Capital Plc, lost her life in the Afriland Towers fire that gutted Broad Street on September 16, 2025. She was remembered as a devoted mother, a committed professional, and a beloved friend.
Just back from maternity leave, Kehinde had given birth to her second child only months earlier, who turned four months old on the day of her memorial. She also leaves behind a six-year-old.
Kehinde was one of six United Capital staff members who lost their lives in the blaze. The others were Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke, 41; Olumide Oyefodunrin, 27; Opeyemi Oloyede, 26; Rebecca Adenuga, 26; and 21-year-old graduate intern Jesutoni Shodipo.
Her close friend, public health consultant Boluwatife Ogunjimi, described Kehinde as “more than a friend, but family,” recalling the pain of her final hours when she was trapped by thick smoke inside the high-rise.
“She was conscious till she felt life draining out of her. Nigeria failed her! She didn’t have to die,” Boluwatife wrote in a post on X.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of four Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) staff, bringing the total death toll to ten. Both organisations confirmed the fatalities in separate statements.
The fire started around 1:30 p.m. September 16 in the basement inverter room, before thick smoke spread quickly through stairways and corridors, trapping occupants. Some workers smashed windows in a bid to escape, while others attempted desperate leaps from the upper floors.
Emergency responders, including the Federal Fire Service and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, battled the fire for hours, rescuing nine people. Five were revived on site, while others were rushed to hospitals across Lagos, where multiple fatalities were confirmed.
