OKECHUKWU OBETA, who covered the burial of three brothers who were consumed by the fire that ravaged the Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos, reports that tears flowed from sympathisers and relations as the remains of the three victims were buried in Anambra a few days ago
The atmosphere in Nze Omatu Ikwuamaeze family house in Uzoakwa village, Ihiala local government area of Anambra state, on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, was, indeed, pathetic as hundreds of mourners gathered to bid farewell to three brothers of the family who lost their lives in the 24 December 2025 fire disaster that ravaged the Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos.
The mood among those who thronged into the sprawling family compound in their hundreds, most of whom dressed in black attire, was, indeed, that of deep sorrow and heavy heart.
Some even wailed, bore swollen eyes with tears flowing down their cheeks like running taps as the three caskets bearing the remains of the three brothers were placed in the family compound for the requiem Mass.
Mourners became more grieved and emotional when the eldest son of the family, a priest of the Catholic Church, Minna Diocese, Niger state, Rev. Fr. William Ugonna Omatu, narrated the tragic story of the demise of his three brothers in the 25-storey building, Great Nigeria Insurance House fire disaster.
The deceased brothers were Steve, aged 40, Casmir, aged 39, and Collins, a twin, aged 37. He said that it was possible that his three brothers and even other victims might have been saved if the Lagos state government had intervened early to save the situation. The Catholic clergy insisted that the Lagos State government, particularly the state government’s fire service, did not intervene when the inferno engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House. So, he called for a thorough probe into the fire disaster, describing it as a “national tragedy”.
He notably dismissed the superstition rumoured among some traditional worshippers in the town that it was a “curse” that claimed his three brothers.
It was gathered that it was firmly believed by some traditional worshippers that their late father, Polycarp Omatu, a Knight of St John International, refused to make a sacrifice to a deity in the community, so they believe that the deity, popularly known as “Ogwugwu”, caused the untimely death of the three sons as revenge.
But, Rev. Fr. Williams dismissed the insinuation with a wave of the hand, saying that the superstition “does not hold any water”, arguing, “My three brothers were not the only ones who died; there were others who died”. He narrated the sad story of the death of his three brothers in an interview, saying, “It (the death of his three brothers) is a national tragedy. It is so unfortunate that the world is not aware of what happened to my three brothers, and not only my three brothers, but many other souls perished in the Great Nigeria Insurance House on the 24th of December, 2025.
“I want the media to find out what happened. It is said that injustice done to one is to all. How must souls be there languishing on 24 December, and the Lagos state government could not provide fire service to rescue Nigerians who were there? It was too unfortunate. And it is my wish that this will never happen to anyone again.”
The clergy argued that the fire raged with the trapped victims for more than one week, from 24 December to 31 December, and the Lagos state government could not do anything to rescue the victims. “What kind of government do we have?” he asked. The clergy continued, “Let the whole world know what is going on in Ihiala, Anambra state, those three brothers: Steve, Casmir, and Collins Omatu – they were my younger brothers, they were victims of what happened on 24 December 2025.
“I am speaking for others who also lost their lives because nobody is speaking for them; I am a priest, and, by virtue of my ordination, I am bound to speak on justice for those who cannot speak for themselves. So, I want the media to find out what happened there. Let there be research, let there be a documentary on what happened on 24 December 2025. It shouldn’t be swept under the carpet”, Rev. Fr. Omatu advised.
An uncle to the deceased three brothers, who said that he was an eyewitness to the Great Nigeria Insurance House fire disaster, Chief Basil Bobity Ndedigwe alleged that it was the Lagos state government’s nonchalant disposition toward the fire disaster that made it impossible for some of the victims to be rescued.
He said that immediately after the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, visited the fire disaster site, government agents cordoned off the area.
Narrating the story of the fire incident in an interview on the sidelines, shortly after the three brothers were interred, Ndedigwe said, “I was there live. The most important thing that got me annoyed is that when the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, arrived, they did not allow us to go there to explain certain things.
“And the announcement is what baffled me most. He (Gov. Sanwo-Olu) said there were no casualties. And after two days, when they were bringing out some corpses, they (agents of the government) refused that the corpse be videoed.
“They said, ‘If you video it (the corpses), what will you say when the governor has said that there was no casualty?’ So, if you are carrying it and the police stop you and ask you where you are carrying the corpse from, where will you say you are holding the corpse from?”
He expressed grave regret that when he was eventually allowed entry into the scene of the fire disaster, even the skeletons of his three nephews had turned into ashes. So, all he could do was to take the ashes for burial at home. He said that the government agents only allowed him access to the burnt building more than a week after.
Emotions deepened in the mourners at the sight of the children and widows of the deceased when they were being helped to the graveside to perform the burial rites of throwing sand into the grave. Their sights, indeed, provoked heavy hearts as many mourners wailed and rained curses on whosoever had a hand in the circumstance that caused the lives of the three brothers.
Steve left behind a widow and three children: first, two daughters, Ifunanya, aged 7, and Chukwunonyerem, aged 5, and the last child, a boy, Somtochukwu, aged 1. Casmir, according to one of their uncles, who also said that he lived in Lagos with the deceased’s three brothers, left a pregnant widow. Their third brother, Collins, a twin, has not been married. According to tradition, his twin brother, Ugochukwu, was absent from the burial ceremony. He was not allowed to see the remains of his twin, even as his casket was being lowered into the grave. Their parents, Sir Polycarp Omatu and his wife, Lady Juliana, have also already joined their ancestors some years ago. With the demise of their three children, those left in the family are the priest, Rev. Fr. William Omatu, who is, incidentally, the first male child, but second child, after Adaora (first child), Ujunwa (third child), and Ugochukwu, the last child. Adaora and Ujunwa are already married. So, Fr. William and Ugochukwu are left to care for the two widows and children of their deceased brothers.
However, a former Anambra State governor, Mr Peter Obi, who visited the bereaved family, consoled them and promised to maintain a close relationship with them. He told them that he shared in their pain over the tragic demise of their family members. The Chairman of Ihiala local government, Hon. Anayochukwu Ojiakor, said that he was mandated by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to represent him at the funeral. He promised that his local government would do everything within its power to support the bereaved family of the three deceased brothers.
But as far as Fr. William and the homilist during the requiem Mass, spiritual director of Upper Room Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nnaji, are concerned, “God does not abandon orphans”. They expressed strong faith that God will always cater for the widows and orphans. For instance, Fr. William, referencing the Bible passage, said, “In Job chapter 19:25, Job said ‘I know that my redeemer liveth’. And in Romans 8:37, it is said ‘in all these things we are more than conquerors’”. “What we have today is by the grace of God. The sustenance of the two widows, children, and my siblings is in the hands of God,” Fr. William said. Fr. Nnaji was emphatic that God knew about the tragedy that befell the three brothers. He particularly cautioned those making negative comments about their death to desist, warning that such statements could be a reason for such people to be condemned to hellfire on their last day. “God does not tell anyone when He will come for him or how He will come for him,” Fr. Nnaji admonished.
Similarly, the president of the Ihiala indigenous priests and religious, Rev. Fr. Desmond Ebulue, a Redemptorist priest, dismissed the superstition being alluded to as the cause of the tragic death of the three brothers. He said that though their death was a tragedy, as Christians, they were not subject to any deity. The Vicar-General of the Minna Diocese, Rev. Fr. Tadeus Umaru, represented the Bishop at the requiem Mass attended by 47 Catholic priests and over 20 Reverend Sisters.
Chinedu said that he got the worst beating of his life from soldiers and police personnel when he attempted to go to the scene of the fire disaster to see if he could rescue his three trapped nephews. Chibuzo Mbachi, a trader at the Balogun Market, dealing in ladies’ wear and T-shirts, said that he lost goods worth over N70 million to vandals who invaded the market. He lamented that, even though security agencies and other agents of the Lagos state government prevented them from entering the market to retrieve their goods, the thieves still carted them away.
“I want to plead with the Lagos state government to come to our help. In such a market, we are supposed to have a functional fire service station. I lost between N70 million and N78 million. I deal in ladies’ wear and T-shirts. As we were running away, because security people were chasing us away, thieves were carting away our goods,” Mbachi lamented.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency has recovered three bodies and rescued five persons after a commercial bus plunged into the Ariyo River along Amunloko Road in Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan, the state capital, by the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Services and Chairman of the agency, Moroof Akinwande.
Akinwande said the agency received a distress call at about 3:38 pm through a resident, Fadeke Yusuf, reporting that a vehicle had fallen into the river in the area.
According to him, firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations.
He explained that upon arrival, the rescue team discovered that a Suzuki commercial bus with number plate OSUN LEW 484 XA, carrying eight passengers, had lost control and plunged into the river.
Five occupants were rescued alive and rushed to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for treatment, while three others were recovered dead.
The remains of the deceased were handed over to a team of policemen from the Ogbere Divisional Headquarters led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.
Akinwande attributed the accident to reckless driving.
He added that officials of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority from the Ona-Ara Division and the Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope, were present during the rescue operation.
The fire service boss urged motorists to drive with caution and adhere strictly to road safety rules to prevent avoidable accidents.
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has warned that violence against women and girls continues to be fuelled by war, militarisation and entrenched inequality, urging governments to move beyond condemnation and take decisive action.
Speaking at a high-level meeting marking five years of the UN Group of Friends for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, she said conflicts around the world are exposing women and girls to severe and lasting harm.
The UN deputy chief spoke on the sidelines of the ongoing 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.
CSW is the United Nations’ principal global body dedicated to promoting gender equality and the rights and empowerment of women.
Established in 1946 by the UN Economic and Social Council, the Commission plays a central role in setting global standards on women’s rights and reviewing progress on gender equality
According to the UN, more than 4,500 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were verified in 2024, although the true number is likely far higher due to stigma, fear and collapsed reporting systems.
The deputy secretary-general pointed to alarming patterns in several crises. In Sudan, UN experts have reported widespread sexual violence and attacks on women human rights defenders.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a child has been reported raped every half hour, while in Haiti, sexual violence against children surged dramatically in recent years.
Mohammed stressed that women must be central to peace processes and political decision-making, warning that lasting peace cannot be achieved while women and girls remain excluded and unprotected.
In a related development, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he was appalled by the devastating impact on civilians of increasing drone attacks in Sudan, amid reports that more than 200 civilians have been killed by drones since March 4 alone, in the Kordofan region and White Nile state.
“It is deeply troubling that despite multiple reminders, warnings and appeals, parties to the conflict continue to use increasingly powerful drones to deploy explosive weapons with wide-area impacts in populated areas,” the High Commissioner said.
He renewed his call for both sides in the brutal civil conflict between rival militaries to fully abide by international law, “particularly the clear prohibition on directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure, and against any form of indiscriminate attacks.”
In West Kordofan, at least 152 civilians have reportedly been killed by Sudanese army drone strikes, including at least 50 when a market and a hospital were hit.
Attacks on two separate markets in Abu Zabad and Wad Banda on March 7 left at least 40 civilians dead, and a lorry carrying civilians was struck allegedly by a SAF drone on 10 March, reportedly killing at least 50 civilians.
In South Kordofan, at least 39 civilians were reportedly killed, including 14 in the state capital Dilling, in heavy artillery shelling by the Rapid Support Forces and allied SPLM-North between 4 and 5 March.
Many homes, schools, markets and health facilities were damaged or destroyed in the attacks, compounding the impacts on civilians and local communities.
The High Commissioner also expressed alarm at the recent expansion of the conflict to White Nile state, which has come under heavy attack by RSF militia drone strikes since 4 March. A secondary school and a health clinic in Shukeiri village were hit on 11 March, reportedly killing at least 17 civilians, one of them a health worker.
“It will soon be three full years since the senseless conflict in Sudan began, devastating millions of lives and livelihoods. Yet the violence, fueled by these new technologies of war, simply keeps spreading,” Türk said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which opens on Monday, will end on March 19.
Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organisations from all regions of the world, including Nigeria, are attending the session.
The priority theme of the session will be ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.
President Donald Trump said that he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed on the first day of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, is alive but “damaged.”
Khamenei has not been seen by Iranians since his selection on Sunday by a clerical assembly, and his first comments were read out by a television presenter on Thursday.
“I think he probably is (alive). I think he is damaged, but I think he’s probably alive in some form, you know,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”
His remarks were published by Fox News late on Thursday.
In Khamenei’s first comments, he vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shut and called on neighboring countries to close US bases on their territory or risk Iran targeting them.
The US and Israel began attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
Iran has responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf countries with US bases.
As the war approached the two-week mark, having killed thousands and shaken financial markets, the leaders of Iran, Israel and the United States all voiced defiance and have vowed to fight on.
