Three Brothers Killed In Lagos Fire Disaster To Be Laid to Rest Next Week
Lagos, Nigeria – January 6, 2026
The funerals of three brothers who lost their lives in the devastating fire that ravaged the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on December 24, 2025, have been announced amid widespread mourning and outrage.
The siblings, Stephen Onyeka Omatu (40), Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37), lost their lives when the inferno engulfed the 25-storey commercial building on Martins Street, in the heart of the Balogun market area of Lagos Island.
Emergency responders claim the blaze began on the fourth floor and spread rapidly upward, trapping traders and occupants inside.
The intensity of the fire and the lack of serious intervention resulted in structural collapse further making any rescue efforts by family members of the victims extremely difficult.
Authorities have since confirmed at least eight fatalities in total and 13 traders rescued alive after almost two weeks under the rubble, with about 20 people reportedly still trapped, according to relatives who provided names and photographs of their affected loved ones.
The building is a major commercial hub housing shops, warehouses, and offices, with a significant number of businesses owned by Igbo traders.
In the aftermath of the fire, graphic videos circulated widely on social media showing victims desperately calling for help. Some traders were seen pleading with government officials and emergency agencies for assistance, lamenting that no visible effort was made to rescue trapped business people as smoke billowed and flames consumed the building.
The Omatu brothers, originally from Uzoakwa in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, were among those trapped while trying to salvage belongings when the blaze erupted.
Relatives describe harrowing days of searching through debris, ultimately discovering that the bodies were burnt beyond recognition. The family resorted to collecting ashes believed to be of their loved ones for burial.
In a Facebook post, the brothers’ sister, Mimi Nonyerem, announced that their burial has been scheduled for January 14, 2026, and appealed for prayers for divine protection over the family. She also disclosed that a service of songs would be held on January 7.
A Service of Songs and Requiem Mass will be held on January 7, 2026 at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Bucknor, Lagos.
The Burial Mass and Interment is scheduled for January 14, 2026, at the Nze Omatu Ikuamaeze Compound in Uzoakwa, Ihiala LGA, Anambra State.
The Eastern Nigeria community, especially Igbo business people and families in Lagos, Anambra, and beyond, has been deeply affected.
Condolences have poured in from friends, neighbours, and other business owners, many of whom shared memories and lamented the perceived failure of authorities to respond more swiftly.
The tragedy has sparked intense criticism of the Lagos State Government and emergency services.
Survivors, family members, and eyewitnesses have questioned the preparedness of fire and rescue services, accusing them of delayed response and inadequate equipment at the scene, even as fires in Igbo-dominated markets continue to occur with alarming frequency.
In particular, relatives of the deceased noted that pleas for help went unanswered for days as the fire raged and exit routes became blocked by debris.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leadership has since urged Igbo traders in Lagos to relocate their businesses back to the Eastern region, arguing that ongoing marginalization and repeated destruction of Igbo-owned enterprises in Nigeria’s commercial capital underscore the need to strengthen the economy in their homeland.
In his New Year’s address to the Biafran people, the Head of the Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem, once again urged Biafran business owners to relocate their investments back home, stressing that it would be safer and more secure for their lives and livelihoods.
“In the spirit of AKU RUE UNO, I call upon all true Sons and Daughters of Biafra to begin from today to repatriate the major part of their businesses and wealth to Biafraland. The leadership of the Biafran business Entrepreneurs in Alaba, Trade Fair, Computer Village etc should get in touch with the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra if they encounter any difficulty from any governor in our region in the process of acquiring appropriate location to situate their businesses,” he stated.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who visited the fire site on December 25 and again in early January, acknowledged the tragedy and pledged support.
However, he has been repeatedly accused of following a familiar pattern in similar fire disasters: visiting affected sites, offering assurances, and then taking no concrete action.
Critics argue that the state measures have become routine government responses, with investigations rarely yielding transparent findings or lasting solutions.
Victims and observers point to the absence of compensation, the lack of meaningful policy reforms, and the failure to conduct thorough investigations to determine the cause of such fires or hold anyone accountable in cases of suspected arson.
Once again, officials announced the establishment of an information centre to coordinate recovery efforts and investigations, alongside a structural review of the damaged GNI building and plans for controlled demolition and improved safety enforcement in the market district.
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