A tragic incident has plunged an Anambra community into mourning following the death of Obumneme, popularly known as Nzeakaibeya, who reportedly returned from China to spend the Christmas season with his family and kinsmen, only to lose his life in a devastating fire outbreak in Lagos.

Obumneme, a native of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, was said to have died during a major inferno that engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a multi storey commercial building on Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve. The fire, which broke out in the evening, caused extensive damage and led to multiple casualties.

According to videos widely shared on social media, Obumneme became trapped when parts of the building collapsed as he attempted to retrieve goods from the burning complex. Reports from eyewitnesses indicated that he had initially managed to rescue some items from the plaza. However, he reportedly went back inside to salvage more goods when sections of the structure suddenly gave way, trapping him as the fire intensified.

Meanwhile, emotional audio recordings circulating alongside the videos captured what were described as Obumneme’s final moments. In one of the recordings, he was heard in distress during a phone conversation with his wife, crying out in pain and urgently calling for help as the situation worsened.

The incident triggered widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing grief and anger over what they described as the absence or delayed arrival of emergency responders at a critical moment when the victim was still alive and calling for assistance.

Residents of Umuoji described Obumneme as energetic, hardworking, and business minded, saying his sudden death has left the community in shock. Sympathisers have continued to send condolences to his family, describing the loss as painful and difficult to comprehend.

The fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House resulted in further casualties. According to emergency officials, three additional bodies were later recovered from the scene, while eight people were rescued alive. Goods estimated to be worth billions of naira were destroyed, dealing a heavy blow to traders, importers, and online vendors who operated within the building.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, said the fire started at about 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve from the fourth floor of the 25 storey building before spreading rapidly to other sections and nearby structures.

According to him, eight men, including a firefighter, were rescued with varying degrees of injuries and taken to hospitals for treatment. He added that five other victims with minor injuries were treated at the scene and discharged. Okunbor said the fire also affected adjoining buildings, including Radio Nigeria, Oluwole Plaza, the Old Lagos Central Mosque, and other nearby structures, although many were eventually saved through coordinated emergency efforts.

He further explained that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, worked through the night into Christmas Day to bring the fire under control, with dampening operations continuing to prevent a fresh outbreak.

As investigations continue into the cause of the inferno, the tragedy has renewed public concern about fire safety, emergency response time, and building standards in major commercial centres across the country.