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‘We buried ashes,’ Family says after losing three relatives in collapsed 25-Storey Lagos GNI building fire
A Nigerian family has said at least three of their relatives died and their remains could not be properly identified after the recent fire and partial collapse of a commercial complex in Lagos.
The 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House in Balogun Market, Lagos Island, went up in flames on December 24. The fire reportedly began on the fourth floor before spreading rapidly, eventually causing part of the structure to collapse.
The blaze affected floors up to the sixth and beyond, weakening the building and trapping occupants, including traders. Emergency officials cited poor storage practices, highly combustible materials and structural design issues as factors that intensified the incident.
Although the state government has yet to officially confirm the casualty figures, traders and eyewitnesses reported several deaths and numerous injuries.
Mr. Emmanuel Anumba, a relative of some of the missing victims, told SaharaReporters that three siblings, Stephen Onyeka Omatu, 40; Casmir Nnabuike Omatu, 39; and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, 37, are believed to have died in the fire.
A surviving twin, Camillus Ugochukwu Omatu, narrowly escaped and has been leading efforts to locate the victims.
“After days of search for the victims, we accessed the building through the assistance of scavengers who are allegedly around to buy irons scraps. It was discovered that all bodies are burnt beyond recognition. We resorted to taking ashes from the troubled area for their burial,” he said.
“Since the accident, the surviving brother has been engaging stakeholders for possible evacuation of the collapsed extension area which blocked and trapped the victims in the building. But all efforts yielded no result as Lagos State Govt had claimed no casualty recorded.”
He alleged that the government and emergency agencies failed to conduct proper evacuation, insisting that workers on site had neither “a sense of urgency” nor adequate equipment to clear debris from the collapsed extension, which had blocked exit routes.
He said, “I left Abuja for Lagos and resumed at the accident site on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
“All engagements for possible rescue continued but the workers on site seemed not to be working with any sense of emergency, no adequate equipment to evacuate debris until we sought the help of scavengers who told us they have been accessing the place unofficially for purchase of iron scraps.”
“For days, nobody helped us. We kept begging officials, but they moved like there was no emergency. Lagos State keeps saying no casualty was recorded, but how can they say that when we carried ashes of our own relatives?” he asked.
Several traders at the market also alleged that although fire service officials arrived early, firefighting efforts were delayed due to what they described as “negotiations,” giving the fire time to spread.
He also alleged that multiple victims remain unaccounted for, claiming that while “official figures” deny casualties, unofficial counts including those removed by excavator suggest “no fewer than 50 people” may have been trapped or killed.
“Victims trapped and burnt beyond recognition as gathered from the site counts no fewer than 50 persons. Those trapped by debris and were removed by excavator for the period I was on the site are about 15 different, which is different from those trapped in the GNI house,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has ordered residents and businesses around the burnt Great Nigeria Insurance building to leave the area immediately.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the government said it was enforcing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive that residents and businesses around the affected building “should leave immediately.”
The statement said the government “sent in experts who evaluated the site of the fire and warned strongly against the inherent danger to lives and property of residents and businesses within 100 meters radius of the site.”
“Several buildings around the scene of fire are compromised and must be evacuated,” the statement said.
It also warned shop owners against breaching safety measures at the scene, saying: “Shop owners are breaking into the no movement barrier zone created at the perimeter of the scene of fire. This is dangerous and must stop.”
The Federal Government’s Independent Investigative Committee probing the deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State has found that the deceased died from asphyxiation.
The committee Chairman and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
Kure stated that the panel recommended that one point four billion be paid to the families of 33 victims and forty-four survivors.
The committee chairman added that the deaths were avoidable as the victims, inclng 14 minors, were held in inhuman conditions.
The committee also recommended summary dismissal of the state commandant of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all other officers who were directly involved in the detention and eventual death of the miners
The committee equally recommended institutional reforms for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in order to strengthen the leadership of the corps.
The Minister of Interior, who received the report, promised to implement the recommendations of the committee in order to ensure justice for all affected persons.
Tunji-Ojo also directed the commandant of the Corps to immediately suspend all officers who cleaned up the detention centre in order to destroy evidence.
The finding marks a major development in the investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners, who died on September 17, 2026, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
The victims were among dozens of persons arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state. (PUNCH)
…Sen. Nnamani, Nwobodo, Dr. Nnamani, Chime, Ugwuanyi, Prof. Nnaji, Arthur Eze, Frank Nweke, Madueke, others get advisory roles
…Udeh, Nwoye, Utazi, Egumgbe, Ben Collins Ndu, Onyia, others head 51 Directorates
…Council to be inaugurated on Tuesday
The Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, unveiled the party’s Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Campaign Council, comprising 51 Directorates, is chaired by the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, while the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Deputy National Chairman, APC (South); Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; and the Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, are Vice Chairmen.
The list signed by Chukwunweike and the Secretary of Enugu APC, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, also has Chief Charlie Mbah as the Director-General of the Campaign Organisation and Dr. Eric Oluedo as the Secretary-General.
Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Dr. Dan Shere, and Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye are Deputy Campaign DGs for Enugu East Senatorial District, Enugu North Senatorial District, and Enugu West Senatorial District, respectively.
Barr. Steve Oruruo is the Campaign Spokesperson and Director of the Public Communication Committee, with Dr. Austin Okolie as co-spokesperson and Dr. Malachy Agbo as Secretary.
Mazi Uche Anichukwu and Dan Nwomeh, both drawn from the Governor’s media team, head the Directorate of New Media and Strategic Communication and the Directorate of Mainstream Media, respectively. Dr. Collins Ogbu is the Secretary of the former, while Dr. Reuben Onyishi is the Secretary of the latter.
Barr. Victor Udeh leads the Administration Directorate, while Dr. Ben Nwoye and Arc. Uche Nwatu are the Director and Co-Director of the Fundraising Committee, respectively.
Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.), chairs the Security Directorate, while former Inspector General of Police, Ogbono Onovo (Rtd.), is the Secretary.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is in charge of the Directorate of Government Appointees Coordination (Federal and State), with Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as Secretary, while former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh, heads Inter-Party Affairs.
Senator Osita Ngwu, Senator Ikeje Asogwa, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu are Coordinators of the Campaign Council in Enugu West, Enugu North, and Enugu East, respectively.
Meanwhile, in their co-signed statement, Chukwunweike and Nnadozie said the size of the Campaign Council was a reflection of “the conviction that every community, ward, local government area, professional group, support organisation, youth body, women’s group, elder, party faithful and person of goodwill must be seen, heard and meaningfully engaged.”
“Appointment into the campaign structure is therefore not merely an honour; it is a call to duty, accountability and measurable contribution,” they stated.
The Council will be inaugurated at the International Conference Centre, Enugu on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
All members of the Campaign Council are to be seated before 3pm.
CLICK LINK BELOW TO SEE FULL LIST:
APC ENUGU CAMPAIGN COUNCIL COMPOSITION-1
Tension has gripped parts of Kwara State following the reported abduction of members of the Iru Ekun Security Group, a security outfit spearheaded by Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
The assailants reportedly abducted the security operatives and forced them to renounce their activities of protecting communities in the state.
According to reports, the abducted members pleaded for their release and were compelled to renounce their community protection activities.
The Iru Ekun Security Group was established to protect Yoruba communities in Kwara State against terrorist attacks and kidnappings.
The reported abduction has sparked fear among residents who rely on the group for protection against insecurity in their communities.
As of the time of filing this report, Igboho had yet to issue a statement on the reported abduction of the security group members.
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