Lagos Fire: Trapped China-returnee, two Others Recovered Dead

Lagos firefighters and emergency teams recovered the bodies of three adults, including a China-based clothier known as Obum, from the rubble of the Great Nigeria Insurance House plaza in Balogun Market, Lagos Island, following a devastating fire that razed the 25-storey structure.

The inferno erupted on the fourth floor last Wednesday, rapidly climbing to the sixth floor and consuming the entire building along with nearby structures. A weakened section of the plaza collapsed during the blaze, trapping traders and assistants beneath tons of debris.

Heartbreaking Discovery of Obum’s Fate
Obum, who ran a clothing store behind the plaza and visited Nigeria only during festive seasons, had nearly evacuated his goods when disaster struck. Eyewitness trader Zacheaus Afolayan recounted how Obum returned for his final items just as the fire-weakened detached section crumbled onto his shop.

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In a desperate bid for survival, Obum called Afolayan from under the rubble around 2 a.m. Thursday, pleading for help. “He said he was not alone there and begged us not to let him die, insisting no one would care for his children,” Afolayan shared during a visit to the scene. Obum called again that afternoon, his voice faint, before succumbing.

His body, remarkably intact, was identified later that day and transported by family to their Anambra village for burial. Two other victims—a male and a female adult—were retrieved Friday morning, one at 11:03 a.m. and the other at 12:03 p.m., according to a rescue agency source.

Broader Impact and Rescue Challenges
The fire, which started around 2 p.m. Wednesday, drew a massive response from the Lagos State Fire Service, Police, and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Officials confirmed no additional bodies have been found as of Sunday, but search efforts continue amid safety concerns over the unstable structure.

NEMA spokesperson Ibrahim Farinloye reported property worth millions of naira lost, with several traders displaced. Families of those still unaccounted for have urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to deploy heavy machinery and more personnel, criticizing delays in clearing the rubble.

This incident echoes recent high-rise fires in Lagos, including the Marine Beach Estate blaze in Ibeju-Lekki last month, raising fresh questions about building safety regulations in crowded markets like Balogun, a hub for textiles and imports.

Authorities have sealed off the area, with investigations underway into the fire’s cause, suspected to be an electrical fault