Omo, my people, e no easy o! As mourners gather for this sad occasion, three brothers wey dem call Stephen, Casmir, and Collins Omatu don lose their lives to fire wey burn dem on Christmas Eve for Lagos. Dem dey remember dem today for church as tears dey flow like river.
Inside Jesus the Saviour Catholic Church, Bucknor, Ejigbo, the atmosphere dey seriously heavy with sorrow, na so we see everybody wey come honor these brothers wey leave this world too soon. Their elder brother, Rev. Fr. Williams Omatu, dey coordinate the whole thing, but you fit see say the pain no be small.
Stephen, wey dey 40, get wife and three pikin; Casmir, wey dey 39, get pregnant wife; and Collins, wey dey 37, single and ready to mingle. Dem no suppose die like this, my people. As dem dey read their short biography, people begin cry as e be say dem no fit believe say three brothers go just go like that.
Fr. Williams, wey still dey process this tragedy, don turn to chief mourner. E talk say, ‘How I go fit believe say my brothers wey dey bring joy and happiness, don just vanish like that?’ Na so e dey express im heartbreak, as other worshippers dey join wey dey wipe tears.
The fire wey come take down dem life happen for Great Nigeria Insurance House for Balogun Market, and e take dem eight lives altogether. No be small gbege, as about 13 others still get injuries. Rev. Fr. Williams later come bring raw emotion come the church; him talk say, ‘Nigeria don fail us, help no come for the fire. How my brothers go die just like that?’ Everyone wey dey there nod their heads in agreement.
Peeps wey come for the mass, no matter how them know di brothers, all of dem gather together, traders, family, and many others wey don connect with the Omatu boys in different ways. Dem all dey mourn together, united in this painful experience.
After service finish, dem organize candlelight procession to honor the brothers. As dem carry candle go church shrine, dem pray as the flames dey shine bright in memory of the lost ones. Oguchukwu, di youngest brother wey dey witness de fire, talk say na government negligence cause di loss. ‘If help don come on time, my brothers for still dey alive today,’ e shout.
People wey dey talk about di deceased dey share how good dem be. Phelomenia, one trader, shed tears as she recall how dem try salvage goods when di fire dey burn everywhere. ‘We scream and shout, but nobody come help us,’ she lamented. Mrs. Rose and Joel, old schoolmates, gree say dem be good people wey dey always organize and dependable.
Funeral arrangement don set, as dem plan to bury dem for January 14, 2026. Parisians dey gather donations to support di family wey don lose three sons in one tragic blow. This wahala don scatter di home and community.
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