The remains of three siblings who lost their lives in the tragic fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, have been laid to rest amid grief and solemn prayers in their hometown.
The brothers — Mr Steve Onyeka Omatu (40), Mr Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Mr Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37) — were buried on Wednesday in Uzoakwa community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, surrounded by heartbroken family members, relatives, friends, and sympathisers.
The three brothers died on December 24, 2025, after being trapped inside the burning high-rise building in Lagos. The inferno shocked residents and reignited national concerns over fire safety standards and emergency response in Nigeria.
Family sources said the fire spread with such intensity that rescue efforts were impossible. Only ashes were reportedly recovered and committed to the earth.
A service of songs and Requiem Mass had earlier been held in their honour at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos, on January 7.
The burial ceremony in Ihiala drew dignitaries and mourners from across the state and beyond. Among those present were former Labour Party presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Mr Peter Obi, and the lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, Mr Pascal Agbodike.
Speaking during the ceremony, Obi offered prayers and words of comfort to the bereaved family, particularly the young widows and children left behind.
“We have no power to question God Almighty. He is the one who gives and takes,” Obi said.
“I am here in person to console you all. It is very painful to lose such energetic and promising young men at this time. My prayer is that
He also appealed to the people of Anambra State and Nigerians at large to remember the family in their prayers.
The burial plunged the Ihiala community into deep mourning, with residents offering prayers that the souls of the departed find eternal rest and that their loved ones find comfort in this difficult time.
Emotions ran high after the interment as the young wives of the deceased, relatives, schoolmates, and friends struggled to come to terms with the tragedy. Many mourners, dressed in black and holding posters bearing the faces of the three brothers, wept openly as they bade them farewell.
Relatives described the loss as an unimaginable nightmare and one of the greatest shocks the family had ever experienced.
The fire reportedly started on the fourth floor of the Great Nigeria Insurance House before spreading to the sixth floor and eventually engulfing the entire building and nearby structures.
During the incident, a detached section of the plaza, estimated to be about seven storeys high, collapsed, trapping traders and market assistants inside.
The Omatu family was among the worst affected, losing three sons in the blaze. A surviving twin, Camillus Omatu, was reportedly able to escape the fire.
Providing an update, a sister of the deceased, Mimi Nonyerem, confirmed that the service of songs took place on January 7, while the burial was held on January 14.
The tragic deaths of the three brothers continue to resonate across communities, serving as a painful reminder of the devastating human cost of fire disasters.
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