- Peter Obi attended the funeral of the Omatu brothers killed in a Lagos building fire, describing their deaths as a national loss and calling for urgent improvements to Nigeria’s emergency services.
- Obi attended the funeral held in Ihiala, Anambra State on January 14 and later expressed his deep condolences on social media.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condoled the Omatu brothers who lost their lives in a fire incident at the Greater Nigeria Insurance Company in Lagos.
Obi attended the funeral held in Ihiala, Anambra State on January 14 and later expressed his deep condolences on social media.
“Yesterday, I attended the funeral of three brothers, Stephen Onyeka Omatu, Casmir Nnabuike Omatu and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, whose lives were brutally claimed by the fire at the Big Insurance Company of Nigeria building in Lagos.” he wrote.
He described the tragedy as distressing and unacceptable, stressing that the victims had been trapped for days while calling for help without any emergency response.
“For days on end, these young people were trapped in the building, making distressing calls for help, but with no emergency services to rescue them… This is not just a personal loss for their families, but a loss for the country,” Obi said.
He added that the incident highlighted the urgent need to improve emergency services in Nigeria, saying: “Every life matters and no Nigerian should have to die in such a horrific way.”
At the funeral, Obi also comforted the family, especially the widow and children.
“WWe have no right to question Almighty God…I am personally here to comfort you all. It is very painful to lose such a dynamic and promising young man. “ he said.
Victims Steve (40), Casmir (39) and Collins (37) Omattu died on December 24, 2025. Their brother Camillus Omatou (Collins’ twin) reportedly escaped the fire.
