Ihiala, Anambra State – January 15, 2026 – Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has described the tragic death of three brothers in a devastating fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House in Lagos as a profound "national loss," urging immediate improvements to Nigeria's emergency response systems.
The burial of the siblings—Stephen Onyeka Omatu (40), Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37)—took place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in their hometown of Uzoakwa community, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State. The ceremony was marked by deep sorrow, with family members, relatives, community leaders, and sympathizers gathering to pay their last respects amid tears and heartfelt tributes.
Peter Obi, who attended the funeral in person, shared his emotional experience on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the event. In a lengthy post, he recounted the heartbreaking details of the tragedy and the family's unimaginable grief.
"Yesterday, I attended a deeply emotional and heartbreaking burial of three siblings, Stephen Onyeka Omatu, Casmir Nnabuike Omatu, and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, the three young brothers whose lives were cruelly cut short in the Great Nigeria Insurance building fire in Lagos, Nigeria," Obi wrote. "It is almost impossible to describe the depth of this tragedy. For days, these young men sent distressing pleas for help while trapped in the building, yet there were no emergency services to rescue them. Several days passed in the rubble before their bodies were finally recovered. Several days of unanswered calls, of a system that failed them at the moment they needed it most."
Obi emphasized that the incident transcends personal bereavement, framing it as a collective national failure. "This is not just a personal loss for their family, it is a national loss. This tragedy should serve as a reminder that our emergency services must be improved and accessible to every citizen. We cannot continue like this. Every life matters, and no Nigerian should ever have to endure such neglect or be left to perish in such a gruesome way, while help could have been provided."
At the funeral grounds, Obi addressed the mourners directly, offering prayers and words of solace. "We have no power to question God Almighty. He is the one who gives and takes," he 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 further appealed to the people of Anambra State and Nigerians at large to remember the grieving family in their prayers.
The fire outbreak occurred on December 24, 2025, at the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island—a bustling commercial hub housing offices, shops, and warehouses. The blaze reportedly started on the fourth floor, rapidly spreading to higher levels and engulfing adjoining structures. The Omatu brothers, who were conducting business in the building, became trapped amid the inferno.
The incident claimed multiple lives, with the death toll rising to at least 10 in some reports, sparking widespread outrage over fire safety standards, building regulations, and the responsiveness of emergency services in Lagos' densely populated commercial districts. A surviving family member, Camillus Omatu—twin brother to Collins—managed to escape the blaze, adding a bittersweet note to the family's profound loss.
A service of songs and Requiem Mass was held earlier on January 7, 2026, at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church in Bucknor Ejigbo, Lagos, before the interment in Anambra. Dignitaries at the burial included the lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, alongside other notable figures.
The tragedy has reignited national conversations about the state of emergency preparedness in Nigeria, with Obi joining a chorus of voices calling for urgent reforms. His presence at the funeral and subsequent public statement underscore his consistent advocacy for improved governance, accountability, and the protection of citizens' lives.
As the Omatu family and community begin the difficult process of healing, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of systemic shortcomings. Peter Obi's words—"May we never forget them, and may we be moved to ensure such a tragedy never happens again"—resonate as a call to action for policymakers, emergency agencies, and society at large.
