New and heartbreaking details have emerged from the devastating fire that engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House plaza at Balogun Market on Lagos Island last week. The incident, which led to a partial building collapse, has now claimed the life of a China-based cloth merchant, with his final, desperate phone calls painting a tragic picture of his last hours.
The Inferno and Collapse
The fire reportedly broke out on Wednesday on the fourth floor of the 25-storey building. It spread with terrifying speed to the upper floors and began affecting nearby structures. As the inferno raged, a section of the plaza detached and collapsed, trapping several traders and their assistants inside who were attempting to salvage their goods.
Emergency services worked through the aftermath and recovered two male bodies on Friday. One of the victims was identified as Nze Obum, a merchant who lived and worked in China and only returned to Nigeria during festive periods to trade. His body was released to his family and has been taken to Anambra State for burial, according to fellow trader Zacheaus Afolayan.
A Desperate Rescue Attempt and Final Pleas
Zacheaus Afolayan provided a chilling account of Obum's final moments. He explained that Obum had been in the process of evacuating his goods from his shop, located behind the main plaza. He had successfully moved most of his items but returned to retrieve the remaining stock. It was at this precise moment that the fire spread and the weakened structure gave way, trapping him beneath the rubble.
The tragedy deepens with the revelation that Obum was alive for hours after the collapse. Around 2 a.m. on Thursday, he managed to call Afolayan. In a desperate plea for help, Obum begged not to be left to die, expressing profound worry for his children, whom he said had no one else to care for them.
Afolayan disclosed that Obum called again later on Thursday afternoon, but his voice was noticeably weaker, marking a grim turn in the situation. No further contact was made, and his body was found the following day.
Community in Mourning and Safety Concerns
This incident has sent shockwaves through the bustling Balogun Market community, one of Lagos's major commercial hubs. It raises urgent questions about fire safety protocols, structural integrity of aging buildings in dense market areas, and emergency response capabilities in such congested environments.
The loss of Nze Obum, a businessman who bridged trade between Nigeria and China, highlights the very human cost of such disasters. His heartbreaking final calls from beneath the rubble serve as a somber reminder of the urgent need for improved safety measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of thousands of traders.
