The remains of three siblings who lost their lives in a devastating fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, were laid to rest on Wednesday in their hometown of Uzoakwa community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The deceased — Mr Steve Onyeka Omatu (40), Mr Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Mr Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37) — all members of the Omatu family, were buried amid grief and mourning, with family members, relatives, and sympathisers in attendance.
The brothers reportedly died on December 24, 2025, after being trapped inside the high-rise building during the inferno, an incident that sparked nationwide concern over fire safety standards and emergency response in Nigeria.
Family sources disclosed that the fire was so intense that rescue efforts proved impossible, leaving only ashes to be recovered for burial.
Before the final interment, a service of songs and a Requiem Mass were held on January 7 at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Ejigbo, Lagos.
Several dignitaries attended the burial ceremony in Ihiala, including a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, the lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, Pascal Agbodike, and other prominent members of the community.
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In his condolence message, Obi urged the bereaved family to find strength in faith as he prayed for the repose of the departed souls.
“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, particularly the young widows and your children. It is very painful to lose such energetic and promising young men at this time.
“It’s painful. My prayer is for God Almighty to grant them eternal rest in His kingdom, and also give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
He also appealed to residents of the state to keep the grieving family in their prayers.
The burial ceremony cast a pall of sorrow over Ihiala, as community members prayed that “their souls find rest and that their family finds strength to pass through this trying time.”
Emotions ran high after the burial, with the young widows of the deceased, relatives, friends, schoolmates, and sympathisers openly weeping as they paid their final respects.
Many mourners, dressed in black and holding placards bearing the images of the three brothers, struggled to comprehend the tragedy that has deeply shaken the community.
Relatives described the incident as an unbearable loss, calling it an unimaginable nightmare and the most painful experience of their lives.
It had earlier been reported on January 7 that the fire originated on the fourth floor of the building, spread to the sixth floor, and later engulfed other parts of the structure and nearby buildings.
A detached section of the plaza, estimated to be about seven storeys high, reportedly collapsed during the blaze, trapping traders and market assistants.
The Omatu family was among the worst affected, losing three sons — Steve, Casmir, and Collins — while a surviving twin, Camillus Omatu, was said to have escaped the fire.
Providing an update on the burial arrangements, a sister of the deceased, Mimi Nonyerem, confirmed that a service of songs was held on January 7, while the final burial took place on January 14.