Reverend William Omatu, whose three brothers (Stephen, 40; Casmir, 39, and Collins, 37) were killed in the Great Nigeria Insurance House fire, has condemned the response of emergency teams.

Mr Omatu condemned the response during the service of songs and the requiem mass held on Wednesday night for the deceased at Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Bucknor, Ejigbo. He alleged that the water supply was inadequate and that rescue efforts were delayed.

Mr Omatu said his three brothers were trapped in the multi-storeyed building as family members pleaded for urgent help from responders at the scene.

He alleged that firefighters arrived with limited water and were unable to sustain operations, leaving trapped victims without meaningful assistance, in spite of repeated appeals from distressed relatives outside the building.

The fire broke out on December 24 and lasted several days, with families expressing frustration over the slow and insufficient emergency response.

Emergency response teams, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, the police, Red Cross, and other responders, were deployed to the scene.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the blaze originated on the fourth floor of the building and rapidly spread upward to at least the 6th floor and beyond, escalating into a full-blown inferno before firefighters could contain it.

The fire also affected adjacent structures, including a nearby mosque and some parts of the Oluwole Plaza.

Eight people were confirmed killed in the fire, including three brothers (the Omatu brothers), whose burial has been scheduled for January 14.

(NAN)