By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

It was a mourning Christmas for the people of Umuoji community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State following the tragic death of one of its own, Obumneme, popularly known as Nzakaibeya, who recently returned from China to celebrate the Yuletide.

Obumneme was said to have lost his life while trying to rescue his goods in an inferno that enveloped the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a high-rise building on Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve.

According to a viral video currently circulating on social media, the China returnee was trapped in the building when parts of it collapsed on him as he attempted to recover goods from the burning plaza.

Reports have it that the victim had initially salvaged some goods from the building, but allegedly returned the second time to retrieve more goods when a sections of the structure suddenly collapsed, trapping him inside; and he was unable to escape as the fire raged.

One of the video circulating on Facebook showed late Obumneme in a happy mood, dancing while others were seated round a table, but a distress audio recording accompanying the dancing video played the voice of Obumneme pleading not to be left to die, asking who would take care of his wife.

While he was crying in pains, his wife's voice came through, asking him if he had come out.

The short audio which was shared on WhatsApp showed husband and wife engaged in a conversation, with the wife calling, "Nze”, to which he replied, “Yes, Nne”.

Wife: Have you come out?

Husband: No, Nze is dying here, a block fell on me and I can't move. I have called someone to call aboki people to come to help me out. If its money, I will pay, you people should not allow me to die. (At this point, the wife burst into tears, raising alarm and the conversation ended.)

However, the help did not eventually come and the fire consumed Obumneme, the China returnee.

The incident has sparked widespread emotional reactions online, with many lamenting the regrettable absence or delayed arrival of emergency responders at the scene when the victim was still alive and crying for help.

The demise of Obumneme, who was described by many as a vibrant and enterprising young man, has thrown the Umuoji community into deep mourning, with residents and sympathisers expressing shock and grief over such a painful and sudden loss.

According to one Umuoji native, Chikelue Okafor, Obumneme’s death is very painful, not because he is too young or old to die but the circumstances that led to his death.

"He flew all the way from China to his country home to celebrate Christmas only to end up dead. I know him personally. Why didn’t he leave those goods after securing some? Life is more important. I'm totally broken. Obum is a vibrant, hardworking man. It’s really sad," Okafor lamented.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Nosa Okunbor, said the fire started around 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, originating from the fourth floor of the 25-storey building before spreading rapidly to other sections and nearby structures.

He said that eight men, including a firefighter, were rescued with varying degrees of injuries and taken to hospitals, while five other victims who sustained minor injuries were treated at the scene and discharged.

While noting that the fire also affected adjoining buildings, including the Radio Nigeria building, Oluwole Plaza, the Old Lagos Central Mosque and other nearby structures, he stressed that most of them were eventually salvaged through coordinated emergency efforts.

Meanwhile, the LASEMA Spokesman said Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, worked through the night into Christmas Day to contain the blaze.