Polaris Bank, Fire Officials Dismiss Fabricated Reports Claiming 34 Fatalities in Lagos Island Branch Outbreak

The management of Polaris Bank, in conjunction with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), has forcefully debunked viral social media reports alleging that upwards of 34 individuals lost their lives during a fire incident at its commercial facility on Lagos Island. Categorizing the circulating reports as entirely malicious and inaccurate, both entities verified that the localized blaze was successfully suppressed with absolutely zero injuries or loss of life recorded.

The emergency unfolded at approximately 11:33 AM on Thursday at the 17-storey Polaris Bank Tower, located at 61/65 Broad Street—a major business hub on Lagos Island.

According to an official briefing from the Controller-General of the LSFRS, Margaret Adeseye, the command received an urgent distress signal indicating that a fire had broken out on the third floor of the skyscraper, a section that primarily functions as a structural parking deck for bank personnel and corporate customers.

The fire service chief detailed that specialized firefighting units from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations were instantly deployed to the location. Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered that a stationary saloon vehicle parked on the third-floor deck had caught fire, sending columns of dark smoke billowing into the surrounding atmosphere and triggering brief anxiety among nearby market traders and office workers.

Thanks to the rapid mobilization of the emergency teams, the fire was quickly isolated and completely extinguished before the flames could spread to surrounding vehicles or breach the primary office spaces of the high-rise structure. Officials confirmed that the physical damage was strictly limited to the single affected car and its immediate concrete bay.

Reacting directly to the panic via a public corporate communication released on Thursday evening, Polaris Bank clarified the origin of the incident and dismantled the false claims spreading across digital media platforms.

"A fire incident occurred at the car park of our Broad Street Branch, Lagos, originating from a customer's vehicle parked on the third-floor car park," the financial institution's executive statement read. "The fire was swiftly contained following the activation of our emergency response procedures and the prompt intervention of firefighters. We confirm that there were no casualties or fatalities. Reports claiming that over 34 persons were feared dead are false and misleading."

The banking institution extended its deep appreciation to the public emergency agencies, its internal security teams, and its surrounding stakeholders for their orderly conduct and support during the brief disruption, adding that a comprehensive technical review has been launched to determine the precise mechanical or electronic failure that caused the customer's vehicle to ignite.