The remains of Steve Onyeka Omatu (40), Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37) — three siblings who died during the devastating fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Lagos Island — were laid to rest on Wednesday in Uzoakwa Community, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State amid deep sorrow and mourning.
The trio lost their lives on December 24, 2025, when a massive inferno engulfed the multi-storey GNI building, a commercial plaza widely used as a warehouse and textile trading centre. The fire, which started at about 5 p.m., rapidly spread from the fourth floor to higher levels, overwhelming emergency responders and trapping occupants inside.
Prior to the burial, a service of songs and Requiem Mass was held at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos, on January 7, drawing family, friends and sympathisers.
The burial ceremony on Wednesday was attended by dignitaries and political figures, including Peter Obi, chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, as well as Hon. Pascal Agbodike, the Ihiala Federal Constituency lawmaker.
In his condolence message, Obi described the loss as painful, prayed for the eternal rest of the departed and urged community members to support the bereaved family, especially the widows and children left behind.
According to official reports, the blaze that consumed the GNI House spread swiftly through the building’s upper floors, prompting an extensive emergency response involving the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross and other agencies.
Traders in the area estimated that the fire destroyed goods worth millions of naira, and several people were rescued, though some succumbed to the blaze and structural collapse. A fourth brother, Camillus Omatu, reportedly escaped the fire.
The inferno reignited fresh concerns over fire safety and emergency preparedness in Lagos’ densely populated commercial districts.
Traders in neighbouring Balogun Market have decried ongoing shop closures and restricted access as authorities conduct assessments of damaged structures.
Lagos State officials have pledged an investigation into the cause of the fire and assured the public of measures to prevent similar tragedies. The structural integrity of the affected building remains under scrutiny, with advice for residents and business owners to stay clear of compromised areas.
