A Catholic Priest has shared the sad condition a family has been left in after they lost 3 brothers in a fire in Lagos.
Recall that brothers Stephen Onyeka Omatu, 40, Casmir Nnabuike Omatu, 39, and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, 37, all di£d when a fire tore through Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos Island on Dec. 24, 2025.
Two brothers are now left in the family. One is the twin brother of Collins and though he managed to escape the fire, he lost his means of livelihood in the fire.
The other surviving brother is a priest, who is now left to pick up the pieces with his brother who lost his means of livelihood.
Father Omatu at the scene of the fire that claimed his brothers’ lives
Reverend Father James Anyaegbu said he spoke with Fr. William Omatu, the Catholic priest who lost three brothers in the fire and he narrated how their conversation went.
He wrote: “I just came off a call with Fr. William Omatu, the surviving brother of the three siblings who lost their lives in the Lagos Market fire. He told me that the bodies of his brothers could not be recovered; they were left only with ashes. In fact, he showed me the ashes he had just collected from the site, even as the government sealed the area and claimed that no lives were lost.
“One of them, Collins, a twin, was only waiting for his student visa to be approved to begin his studies in the UK this January. Today marks 28 years since their mum died in an accident. This is deeply painful and heartbreaking.
“Fr. William also shared that about 100 people are believed to have died in that building. What a tragedy. I cannot imagine what he and his remaining siblings are going through at this time, but I pray that God will grant them the strength to endure. Amen.
“Please keep the family in your prayers as they travel for the burial.
“May the souls of Stephen, Casimir, and Collins rest in peace. Amen.
“I hope this message reaches the attention of the main media.”
The brothers will be buried on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
