Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Church holds service of songs for three brothers who died in Great Nigeria House fire in Lagos 

He noted they were among eight others who died in the fire, which also left 13 others injured.

• January 7, 2026
Burning Balogun market
Burning Balogun market

Jesus The Saviour Catholic Church in Ejigbo, Lagos State, has conducted the Service of Songs and Requiem Mass for three brothers who died in the Great Nigeria House fire in Balogun Market, Lagos Island, on December 24, 2025.

The three deceased victims, from Uzoakwa community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, are: Stephen Omyeka Omatu, who left behind a wife and three children; Casmir Nnabuike Omatu, who left a pregnant wife; and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, who was unmarried.

The programme, held on Wednesday, witnessed prayers and renditions of several hymns to mourn the departed souls.

Mourners, comprising friends and church members, took turns during and after the programme to sympathise with and comfort the bereaved family members, who were in tears.

A Reverend in the church, Williams Omatu, who is also a biological brother to the deceased, in his speech, thanked God for the lives of his late siblings. He noted they were among eight others who died in the fire, which also left 13 others injured.

Another Reverend, Benjamin Ekpo, urged house and company owners to ensure emergency exits are provided to prevent a repeat of such a disaster.

The bereaved family and some church members held a candlelight procession around the church vicinity after the service, in honour of the departed souls.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

ISWAP

States

ISWAP chief photographer, other media team members killed in sustained military operations

The spokesperson said several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.

New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill.

Heading 2

New Jersey registered 6,600 non-citizens as voters in error: Governor Sherrill 

The governor attributed the error to a software glitch in the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission.

Gavel used to illustrate the story

Abuja

Three Abuja security guards in court over alleged theft of scaffold pipes worth N1.8 million

The prosecutor said that the offence is contrary to Sections 79 and 289 of the Penal Code.

Nigerian Navy and NAPTIP logos.

NationWide

Navy hands over two rescued victims of human traffickers to NAPTIP

Mr Folorunsho said that the handover was conducted by Forward Operating Base (FOB) BADAGRY, on July 19 at the agency’s Lagos Zonal Command in Ikeja.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

States

Insecurity: Tinubu approves establishment of army battalion in Kwara

The battalion will be stationed in Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area.

HOUTHI MILITANTS

World

Saudi oil tankers make U-turn in Red Sea as Houthi militants threaten attack

Three oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to China and India made U-turns in the Red Sea on Tuesday following a threatened attack from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia.