By BONIFACE AKARAH

Three vibrant men from the same family have been confirmed dead in the recent fire incident that gutted parts of the Great Nigeria House at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, during the Christmas Eve tragedy in Lagos.

The victims—Mr. Steven Onyeka Omatu (40), Mr. Casmir Nnabuike Omatu (39), and Mr. Collins Kenechukwu Omatu (37)—were confirmed killed in the inferno by their family. The men were sons of the late Sir Polycarp Omatu Ikwuamaeze, KSJI, and late Lady Justina Omatu Ikwuamaeze, KSJI.

An obituary announcement sighted by News Express described the incident as a “painful exit,” stating that the three brothers died on December 24, 2025, in the fire disaster that occurred at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building complex within Balogun Market.

“The family regrets to announce the demise of their three children… who died on 24th December 2025 in the fire disaster that occurred in the Great Nigeria House, Balogun Market, Lagos Island,” the statement said.

According to the funeral arrangements released by the family, a Service of Songs and Requiem Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Ken Nemedim Street, Bucknor, Ejigbo, Lagos, by 5:00 p.m.

The burial Mass and interment are scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the Nze Omatu Ikwuamaeze compound, Umumgboma, Umarugwu Nzoakwa, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The deaths of the three brothers form part of the wider casualty figures from the Christmas Eve fire incident, which the Lagos State Government has confirmed claimed eight lives.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed the updated death toll on Friday during an inspection of the affected 25-storey GNI building, where pockets of fire were still visible nine days after the outbreak. The governor expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and led officials on a minute of silence in honour of the victims.

“We have now confirmed that eight lives were lost in this unfortunate fire, and our hearts go out to their families,” Sanwo-Olu said. “This is a very painful incident for all of us.”

Preliminary findings, according to the governor, attributed the fire outbreak to human error, with unsafe practices observed in the affected building and surrounding structures. He revealed that several adjoining shopping plazas were operating generators on multiple floors, a practice he described as extremely dangerous.

“What we have observed here is very disturbing,” Sanwo-Olu said. “You can see generators on multiple floors of these buildings, which is extremely dangerous.”

He warned that the government would not hesitate to take “tough decisions,” including demolishing any structure that fails integrity tests, and subsequently declared the vicinity of the GNI building unsafe for human activity.

Residents and traders were advised to stay away from the area until a phased and coordinated demolition exercise is completed, while traders were urged to always prioritise their lives over property during emergencies.

“Your life is more important than your goods,” the governor said, noting that some victims who were initially evacuated later returned to retrieve belongings, a decision that proved fatal.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has established a help desk at the site to document reports of missing persons linked to businesses within the affected plazas, as safety assessments and recovery efforts continue.

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