Agony deepens as over 20 feared buried beneath collapsed Great Nigeria Insurance Building; LASEMA confirms recovery of another body
Seven days after a devastating fire and partial collapse of the Great Nigeria Insurance Building at Balogun Market, Lagos Island, Stephen Onyeka Omatu and his two brothers remain trapped under the rubble, as anguished families renew calls for urgent intervention by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
For seven days, a wife has waited endlessly for her husband. For seven days, children have continued to ask after their father. For seven days, families have stood helplessly under the scorching sun, clinging to hope—if only to recover the bodies of their loved ones.
The three brothers, all born to the same mother, were among traders and market assistants trapped when a section of the multi-storey building collapsed during the inferno that erupted last Wednesday at the Balogun Market axis of Lagos Island.
Investigations revealed that the fire started on the fourth floor of the 25-storey building, spread rapidly to the sixth floor, and later engulfed adjoining sections and nearby structures. A detached portion of the complex, estimated at about seven floors, collapsed during the incident, trapping dozens beneath the debris.
Emergency responders initially rescued 13 people, while three bodies were recovered on Friday, including that of a China-based cloth dealer identified simply as Omatu. However, as of Sunday, relatives and eyewitnesses said no fewer than 20 people were still believed to be trapped.
A source close to the victims said, “Steven Onyeka Omatu is my classmate and vice president of our alumni association. He and his brothers are still under the rubble. Families are waiting in agony. We urgently need the Lagos State Government and emergency agencies to intensify rescue efforts. These are human beings, not statistics.”
Relatives recount harrowing experiences. Alhaja Muibat Ajetumobi said her brother, Taofeek, rushed from Pedro to help traders salvage goods when the building suddenly collapsed. “I have not slept since this happened. I know emergency workers are trying, but they need more hands,” she said.
Augustine Nwafor said two of his brothers—Onyeka and Ikechukwu—remain trapped. “The major problem is the fire. LASEMA cannot access the exact spot because the heat is still intense. When fire trucks go to refill water, operations stop for hours,” he lamented.
Similarly, Fatima Ibitoye, whose brothers Aborinwa and Omoniyi are missing, stressed the urgent need for more water and firefighting equipment. “About seven or eight fire engines came, and we appreciate that, but the exact spot where our people are trapped is still burning. Even if they are no longer alive, we are begging the government to help us recover their bodies,” she said.
A senior LASEMA official, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that another body was discovered on Sunday. “We recovered a body, but it was only half. Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining part,” the official said.
As search-and-rescue operations entered the seventh day, families grew increasingly frustrated over the slow pace of recovery.
Great Nigeria Insurance Distances Itself
Meanwhile, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI) has distanced itself from the operations of the affected building, stating that it neither occupies nor manages the property.
In a statement, the company expressed sympathy with victims and affected businesses, describing the incident as unfortunate. GNI explained that it holds a long lease on the bare land at No. 47/57 Martins Street, granted by the Shitta-Bey family and expiring on December 31, 2036, and that it constructed the 25-storey building strictly for investment purposes.
The company disclosed it has been embroiled in a prolonged legal dispute with the Shitta-Bey family, who allegedly took over the property in 2020 despite subsisting court orders.
“While appeals were pending, the Shitta-Bey family forcefully took possession of the property and leased it to tenants without recourse to GNI. The court later ordered them to vacate and restrained further trespass,” the statement said.
GNI added that it has been denied physical possession of the property for over five years and has no operational presence in the building. “Great Nigeria Insurance does not maintain any office in the affected building, and the fire incident has not impacted our operations,” the company stated.
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