The three Omatu brothers – Stephen Onyeka (40), Casmir Nnabuike (39), and Collins Kenechukwu (37) – were laid to rest in their family compound in Uzo Akwa, Ihiala Local Government Area.
A devastating fire had engulfed the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House in Lagos Island on Christmas Eve 2025.
The family in a statement, described the tragedy as an “irreparable loss” to their household and the wider community.
The brothers were in the commercial high-rise, on Martins Street, Balogun Market, when flames erupted around on December 24.
The Fire spread rapidly through the building housing clothing and textile warehouses, offices, and retail shops – and caused partial collapse.
Rescuers worked for seven days, and officials confirmed the brothers’ deaths on December 31.
Relatives report they could only recover ashes in some cases, which deepened the family’s grief.
During the Lagos service, Reverend William Omatu criticized emergency response teams. He said families pleaded repeatedly for urgent help, but responders arrived with limited resources and could not sustain operations.
The Lagos State government has now constituted a committee to oversee controlled demolition of the structurally unsound GNI building, citing public safety risks.
Investigators are probing the fire’s cause, and the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) warns the incident reflects long-standing failures in fire safety compliance and building maintenance across Lagos Island’s high-rises.