The widow of a cloth merchant who perished in the tragic collapse of the Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos has shared a heartbreaking tribute to mark what would have been their wedding anniversary.
A Celebration Turned to Mourning
Identified on social media as @prettyamiy, the woman took to her TikTok page to commemorate the day, which arrived just days after her husband's death. The businessman, Nze Obum, was a China-based cloth merchant who had returned to Nigeria for the Christmas season. His trip had a dual purpose: to support his wife, who had recently given birth, and to sell goods at the market.
The catastrophic incident occurred on January 6, 2026, when a fierce fire ravaged the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House plaza in the bustling Balogun Market area. During the chaos, Obum was reportedly inside the building, retrieving remaining stock from his shop located behind the plaza. The structure collapsed, trapping him beneath the rubble. Despite desperate calls for help, he could not be saved.
An Emotional Tribute to a Lost Love
In her poignant online post, the grieving widow shared a photograph from their wedding day. She accompanied the image with a caption that laid bare her profound sorrow and struggle to cope with the sudden loss.
Her message read: "Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary Swtty. This pain is much. Pls tell me how to do it…How am I going to live knowing you are no more Swtty." Prior to this, she had posted a video capturing their last dance together, a memory now made infinitely more precious.
Public Reaction and Broader Tragedy
The widow's post elicited an outpouring of sympathy and condolences from Nigerians across social media platforms. Users expressed their pain and offered prayers for the bereaved family.
One commenter, @EXPENSIVE FRANCIS, reflected on the unpredictability of death, while another, @Ada Dollar, directed criticism at the government, stating: "shame on Nigeria government, No provision for emergency rescue!" The tragedy has sparked conversations about building safety standards and emergency response protocols in the country's commercial hubs.
The fire and subsequent collapse at the Great Nigeria Insurance House plaza is part of a larger incident that has devastated the Lagos Island business community. In a related report, a Nigerian businesswoman was seen weeping bitterly after losing two of her shops to the same inferno, highlighting the widespread economic and personal damage caused by the disaster.
