A distressed Nigerian woman has urgently appealed for help after her three brothers were reportedly trapped beneath the rubble of the Great Nigeria House on Lagos Island following a devastating building collapse that occurred on Christmas Eve. The tragic incident began with a fire that consumed parts of the building before its structural failure, causing widespread panic and prompting immediate concern among residents, passersby, and emergency responders.
In a viral video circulating widely on social media platforms, the woman tearfully recounted how her brothers were inside the building when the fire broke out. She called on the authorities, emergency services, and volunteers to act swiftly to rescue her siblings and others who may still be trapped. Her emotional appeal has drawn significant public attention, highlighting the urgency of coordinated rescue efforts in the area.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the fire raged for several hours before the building ultimately collapsed, leaving sections of the structure completely flattened. The woman indicated that, as of the latest updates, no effective rescue operation had yet been carried out to extract those buried under the debris, causing immense distress for affected families.
Sharing a photograph with one of her brothers, she posted an emotional message online: “Uncle Steve, my ever-smart brother. I believe you will come back alive. Your kids miss you.” The post underscored the personal anguish faced by the families and the human toll of the disaster.
Local residents and other witnesses corroborated that the fire’s intensity made initial rescue efforts difficult, as heavy smoke and unstable debris hampered access to potential survivors. The collapse has renewed public scrutiny over building safety regulations, emergency response readiness, and disaster management procedures in Nigeria, particularly in high-density urban areas like Lagos Island.
The woman also voiced her frustration over the perceived slow pace of intervention by emergency services, appealing directly to government agencies, disaster management authorities, and non-governmental organizations to intensify search-and-rescue operations. She emphasized that time is critical, noting that the trapped individuals could be in life-threatening conditions under the debris.
Families of other victims have similarly expressed despair, repeatedly pleading for rapid action. Community members and concerned citizens have begun organizing local support and volunteer efforts to assist in recovery operations, but challenges persist due to structural instability and lingering hazards from the fire.
The collapse of Great Nigeria House has once again highlighted the pressing need for enforcement of fire safety standards, regular building inspections, and coordinated disaster response plans in Nigeria’s urban centers. The tragic incident has sparked nationwide conversations about accountability, infrastructure maintenance, and the responsibility of authorities to protect citizens in vulnerable environments.
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